Presented during the 17h Annual Sahelo-Saharan Interest Group Meeting organized by the NGO Sahara Conservation Fund in Senegal, from 4 to 6 May 2017. The Sahara Conservation Fund (SCF) gathers every year about a hundred people who are interested in the field of Sahelo-Saharan species conservation.
Overview and update about the oryx project in Chad
1. 17th Annual Sahelo-Saharan Interest Group Meeting
2 days of talks on biodiversity conservation in the Sahara and in the Sahel
Overview and update about the oryx project in Chad
John NEWBY, Chief Executive Officer – Sahara Conservation Fund
May 4 – 6, 2017
3. project partners
with technical support from
Justin Chuven (EAD)
Tim Wacher (ZSL)
Jared Stabach (SCBI)
Mahamat Hassan Hatcha (DCFAP)
Adam Eyres (FRWC)
Steve Monfort (SCBI)
Ric Pusey (EAD)
co-authors
4. Saving Saharan Wildlife
oryx are back in the wild
• Late 1980s the oryx became extinct in the wild (Chad and Niger)
• IUCN Red List status Extinct in the Wild since 2000
• Mid-1960s oryx captured in Chad for zoos on several continents
• Captive populations are today numerous with some 15-20,000 oryx
• Oryx repatriated to fenced protected areas in Morocco, Tunisia and Senegal
• No full release into the wild before now
5. Saving Saharan Wildlife
Ouadi Rimé-Ouadi
Achim Game
Reserve.
78,000 km2
Almost exactly the
same size as Indiana
or twice the size of
Belgium!
Sahelian grassland
and sub-desert
habitats.
6. Saving Saharan Wildlife
project timeline
• March 14 Group 1 (25) arrive Chad
• July 21 Group 1 collared (Chad)
• August 14 Group 1 released (21)
• September 20 first wild born calf
• October 11 Group 2 collared (Abu Dhabi)
• November 14 Group 2 (25) arrive Chad
• January 18 Group 3 (24) arrive Chad
• January 21 Group 2 released (12 + 2 from Group 1)
• July Group 3 to be collared
• August remaining animals of Group 2 + Group 3 to be released
• October Group 4 to arrive Chad
7. Saving Saharan Wildlife
current situation
• Fast moving situation
• Herd splintering in
response to grazing,
shade, rainfall, etc.
• Baby boom
• Tim/Marc/Katherine &
Mahamat can provide
current numbers and
breakdown
15. Saving Saharan Wildlife
monitoring
• Partners SCBI and ZSL
• Field trials in USA
• Vectronic collars
• Iridium network
• Data transfer to field
• VHF capability
• Local monitoring team
• Alerts / Rapid response
29. Saving Saharan Wildlife
future challenges
• Up to now has been the “easy” bit!
• Poaching – currently under control
• Integrating conservation and livestock development
• Habitat loss – natural and man-made -- bushfires
• Access to vital hot season grazing and shade
• Monitoring will help with assessment & conservation
• Cooperation between stakeholders is key
• Innovative management, zonation, etc.
• Maintaining national and political support
• Political stability will govern much of what is possible
41. Saving Saharan Wildlife
Project supported by
follow us
On the web:
www.saharaconservation.org
Sandscript:
http://www.saharaconservation.
org/?-Sandscript-
Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/
saharacf