text: Many of the creatures comprising the Algerian wildlife live in close proximity to civilisation.The most commonly seen animals include the wild boars, jackals, and gazelles, although it is not uncommon to spot fennecs (foxes), and jerboas.Algeria also has a small African leopard and Saharan cheetah population, but these are seldom seen.A species of deer, the Barbary stag, inhabits the dense humid forests in the north-eastern areas.The fennec fox is the national animal of Algeria.A variety of bird species makes the country an attraction for bird watchers.The forests are inhabited by boars and jackals.Barbary macaques are the sole native monkey.Snakes, monitor lizards, and numerous other reptiles can be found living among an array of rodents throughout the semi arid regions of Algeria.Many animals are now extinct, including the Barbary lions, Atlas bears and crocodiles.In the north, some of the native flora includes Macchia scrub, olive trees, oaks, cedars and other conifers.The mountain regions contain large forests of evergreens (Aleppo pine, juniper, and evergreen oak) and some deciduous trees.Fig, eucalyptus, agave, and various palm trees grow in the warmer areas.The grape vine is indigenous to the coast.In the Sahara region, some oases have palm trees.Acacias with wild olives are the predominant flora in the remainder of the Sahara.Algeria had a 2018 Forest Landscape Integrity Index mean score of 5.22/10, ranking it 106th globally out of 172 countries.Camels are used extensively; the desert also abounds with venomous and nonvenomous snakes, scorpions, and numerous insects.Government and politics Elected politicians have relatively little sway over Algeria.Instead, a group of unelected civilian and military "décideurs" ("deciders"), known as "le pouvoir" ("the power"), actually rule the country, even deciding who should be president.