Sierra Leone 2007 - Animals of Africa Part III - Elephant - Cupro Nickel

Pobjoy Mint is proud to announce the release of part III of the very successful African Animals series which began in 2005.  Each year four coins have been released which depict some of the endangered animals that live on the plains and in the forests of Africa.  Endangerment is an issue which involves the habitats and environments of these amazing creatures and, although some measures are being taken to help specific cases of endangerment, the universal problem will not be solved until the natural environments where these endangered species live are protected. 

The Sierra Leone Government is party to environmental agreements to aid endangered species.  This vibrant collection shows each animal in its natural habitat and features the following four animals:

• The Rhinoceros­ – Endangered because poachers hunt them for their horns and then sell them on the black market.  By 1984 there were only 9,000 Black Rhinos remaining and these numbers continue to decline.  In 1994 the White Rhinos were second on the Top Ten Most Endangered Species list but has recovered in the last 10 years.
• African Elephant – The African Elephant is vulnerable because it is attacked by poachers who covet its tusks of ivory to sell to make ornaments and jewellery.  Elephants cannot breed until they are fourteen years old and pregnancies last for two years, they are unable to breed quickly enough to replace all the elephants that are being killed.
• Zebra – The Cape Mountain Zebra is only found in two reserves in the mountains in the southern Cape Providence.  Poachers hunt these animals as game and their habitat is also being invaded by an  increasing population of humans. 
• Cheetah – Mainly found in Southern Africa, the Cheetah is vulnerable because it is hunted for its fur and its habitat is being destroyed.  There are now less than 25,000 Cheetahs in Africa.