Aïr and Ténéré Addax Sanctuary
Encyclopedia
The Aïr and Ténéré Addax Sanctuary is a nature reserve in the north center of the nation of Niger
. The reserve forms part of the larger Aïr and Ténéré National Nature Reserve
, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Aïr and Ténéré National Nature Reserve covers 77360 square kilometres (29,868.9 sq mi), of which 12800 square kilometres (4,942.1 sq mi)form the Aïr and Ténéré Addax Sanctuary.
The Sanctuary exists to protect the critically endangered Addax
, which once roamed much of the Aïr Mountains
and Ténéré desert. Established 1 January 1988, the sanctuary IUCN type Ia Strict Nature Reserve, the most restricted faunal reserve in Niger.
Plans in the early 1990s to reintroduce captive bred Addax into the sanctuary were derailed by the advent of the 1990s Tuareg insurgency, while reimplementation has been stopped by fighting which erupted in 2007
. As of 2006, it was feared that whatever Addax population remained in the sanctuary was no longer self sustaining.
Niger
Niger , officially named the Republic of Niger, is a landlocked country in Western Africa, named after the Niger River. It borders Nigeria and Benin to the south, Burkina Faso and Mali to the west, Algeria and Libya to the north and Chad to the east...
. The reserve forms part of the larger Aïr and Ténéré National Nature Reserve
Aïr and Ténéré National Nature Reserve
The Aïr and Ténéré National Nature Reserve is a national nature reserve in the West African nation of Niger. It includes several overlapping reserve designations, and is designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site...
, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Aïr and Ténéré National Nature Reserve covers 77360 square kilometres (29,868.9 sq mi), of which 12800 square kilometres (4,942.1 sq mi)form the Aïr and Ténéré Addax Sanctuary.
The Sanctuary exists to protect the critically endangered Addax
Addax
The Addax , also known as the screwhorn antelope, is a critically endangered species of antelope that lives in the Sahara desert. As suggested by its alternative name, this pale antelope has long, twisted horns. It is closely related to the oryx, but differs from other antelopes by having large...
, which once roamed much of the Aïr Mountains
Aïr Mountains
The Aïr Mountains is a triangular massif, located in northern Niger, within the Sahara desert...
and Ténéré desert. Established 1 January 1988, the sanctuary IUCN type Ia Strict Nature Reserve, the most restricted faunal reserve in Niger.
Plans in the early 1990s to reintroduce captive bred Addax into the sanctuary were derailed by the advent of the 1990s Tuareg insurgency, while reimplementation has been stopped by fighting which erupted in 2007
Tuareg Rebellion (2007–present)
The Tuareg Rebellion of 2007-2009 was an insurgency that began in February 2007 amongst elements of the Tuareg people living in the Sahara desert regions of northern Mali and Niger. It is only the most recent of a series of insurgencies by formerly nomadic Tuareg populations, which had last...
. As of 2006, it was feared that whatever Addax population remained in the sanctuary was no longer self sustaining.