Are There Turkeys In Africa? Exploring The Avian Fauna Of The Continent

Are turkeys native to Africa? Turkeys, specifically the domesticated ones we commonly encounter today, actually originate from the Wild Turkey species (Meleagris gallopavo), which is native exclusively to the Americas. The story of turkeys in Europe and Asia began in the 1500s when Spanish traders introduced them to these continents. These particular turkeys were initially domesticated by indigenous Americans. So, while turkeys are not native to Africa, they have a fascinating history of transcontinental migration thanks to early European explorers and trade networks.

Are there turkeys in South Africa? In 2021, South Africa had a thriving turkey population with a total of 541,000 turkeys. This marked a notable increase of approximately 2,000 turkeys compared to the previous year. It’s worth noting that the turkey population in South Africa has been on a steady rise since 2010. As of June 28, 2023, the trend continues, though specific updated figures are not available at this time. This information provides a clear picture of the presence and growth of turkeys in South Africa over recent years.

Are turkeys found worldwide? While turkeys are primarily popular in North America and Europe as livestock, with more than half of the global turkey population residing in North America, their appeal is steadily expanding to other regions across the world. This is due to the fact that these birds exhibit rapid growth rates similar to those seen in poultry and layer birds. As a result, turkeys are increasingly gaining recognition and utilization in various parts of the globe.