How are Africa and Asia connected?

Two sides of the same coin

The historic region in India could ring a bell, or a quick search will turn up the game reserve in South Africa, but neither are the one we’re talking about. The Gondwana we mean was one of two supercontinents. It’s the one that plate tectonics broke into what we know as Australia, Antarctica, South America, Africa and the Indian subcontinent. And it’s the reason why the wildlife of the latter two are so intertwined.

With the duo of land masses drifting apart over millions of years, evolution began to work its magic on the animals that once wandered Gondwana together, adapting them to life in the likes of what are now the dusty plains of Africa and the leafy jungles of India and Sri Lanka. While some species retained their overall look, qualities like size, colour and habitat preference changed to align with the differing climates – think the ears of elephants and the fur of leopards. The result: both destinations being blessed with similar animals in different guises.

Going even further, both places saw different, more unique species emerging, and evolving alongside them were the colourful cultures that we associate with these countries today. Now with their own identities, beliefs and customs, it can sometimes be hard to believe these regions were once connected. But for all of their differences, there’s always one thing both have in common – an unsurpassed love of their wildlife. And, as the continents continue to move to this day, so too do the initiatives to protect it.