Biodiversity of the Sahara

[Jose Brito]

Dear friends,


I would like to invite you to visit a website dedicated to the Biodiversity of the Sahara and in particular to the crocodiles of Mauritania: Crocodiles in Mauritania :: Home

I hope you enjoy the reading and find the information displayed usefull.


Cheers,
José

[gvdaa]

Thanks. Interesting. Did not know there are that many crocodiles in Mauritania. Just came back from Chad, where some guys in my group saw a crocodile in the Guelta Archei. Would like to know more about the Chad crocodiles. Can you refer to online info?

[NCR]

Great info!

Thanks!

[priffe]

Good stuff, José, now we will go croc-hunting next month.
Thanks for the map. I take it every green spot is one croc?
Nice pics you took of the reptiles. It is hard to find wildlife in the Sahel,
esp of mammals other than cow-donkey-sheep-goat :/
So all hints are welcome.
One adventurous Swedish lady wrote that the largest hyenas in Africa are found on the Mauri beach, "beach hyenas" she called them. I've been looking, but never found anyone to confirm this. But the guide at Bank d'Argain said that there are indeed hyenas around, albeit rare.

[ferdi]

Hi priffe,

i don't think so - there are several mammals still in the sahara/sahel: Fennek, different sorts of gazelles, hyenas, gepards, hippos, elephants, giraffes, camels, mouses, rats, camels ...

see:
Wildlife - SCF - Sahara Conservation Fund
and
wuestenschiff.de/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=35010
wuestenschiff.de/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=44819

Greetings
Ferdi

[priffe]

Ferdi, yes there are mammals but the Serengeti it is not...draught combined with over-grazing is a constant problem.

[Jose Brito]

Hi,

Thanks for the input!


1 - Unfortunately there isn't much info on crocodiles from Chad, a part from the typical reference at guelta Archei. So far, there are no other known localitites in northern Chad. However, crocodiles have been suggested to occur at gueltas Oudougeï and Tottous, at the Tibesti. It would be very important, if anyones is heading for the Tibesti, to check out these localitites.

2 - There are still hyenas at the Banc d'Arguin National Park, but they have become ingreasingly rare. The same happens with gazelles, which are virtually extinct from the Park, and only remain on an isolated population on Tidra Island. The arrival of Toyotas and AK-47's during the second half of the 20th century, contributed largely for the decline of most large mammals. On the other hand, jackals and fennecs can be easily observed in the Park.

Cheers,
José

[gvdaa]

Hello Jose,

I hope to visit Tibesti in october. Do you have GPS points of teh localities you mentioned?

Thanks

[ursula]

one of the craziest shots I ever made...

[gvdaa]

Great picture.

[ursula]

the camels didn't care at all about the crocodile lying in the grass

[Jose Brito]

Hi,



Fantastic photos indeed! Apparently crocodiles behave in Chad the same as in Mauritania. They are very calm and never attack people or large animals. Apparently the main prey they take are fishes and amphibians, with occasional small cattle (mostly sheeps).
Ursula, did you observed more than the crocodile pictured? How many did you observed? Can you give me date of observation also? Thanks


Guelta Oudougeï: N19.3600 E17.5400 (coordinates in decimal degrees)
Guelta Tottous: N19.4400 E17.52000
It would be awsome if you could check out these localitites. Local people may also give indicationss about presence of crocodiles. The best is to carry a good sized picture of a crocodile and ask around if people now them. These surveys have been very useful in Mauritania.

Cheers,
José

[gvdaa]

I passed both guelta's more or less in november, they are on the main track from Zouar to Faya. Hope to check for crocodiles next october.

[ursula]

hi Jose

- camels and the crocodile in the middle part of the Guelta in january 2006

- one crocodile in the upper part in november 2004
http://up.picr.de/6168273kth.jpg
- and these three crocodiles in the middle part the same day in november 2004
http://up.picr.de/6168272gnf.jpg

I never saw crocodiles in the lower part of the guelta, but Chadians told me, that they come down from time to time, when they are very hungry. Fact or myth?

Ursula

[Jose Brito]

Hi Ursula,

Fantastic photos!! Thanks a lot!!

During the rainy season it maybe possible that crocodiles come out of the main pools. They may explore the surroundings, possibly while trying to find "old" river routes to other localitites.

So, apparently, 3 adult crocodiles are present at Guelta Archei. Does anyone remember observing more than 3 adults on the same day?
It would be interesting just to have an idea about potential population size.


Cheers,
José