Climate change and wildlife: 3 studies that reveal the devastating toll on Africa's animals

The carcass of a Grévy's zebra, an endangered species which exists only in the northern part of Kenya, where drought is ongoing. Photo by FREDRIK LERNERYD/AFP via Getty Images

Climate change has produced a number of threats to wildlife. Over time, changing rainfall patterns have transformed habitats and forced animals to move. Increasing temperatures are causing mass die-off events during heat waves and making it hard for animals to find food.

Drought is recurring in parts of the continent. The increased frequency means there’s little or no time to recover before the next one occurs. The wildlife in some of these regions lives alongside people who are also struggling to survive and keep their livestock alive. This puts people and wildlife into conflict as they compete for diminishing sources of water and food.