Mapping antelope habitats in the Ouadi Rimé-Ouadi Achim Reserve, Chad
Project overview
Our research project aims to assess the forage resources availability, quality and selectivity for six mammals in the Sahelian-Saharan protected area named Ouadi Rime Ouadi Achim (OROAR) in central Chad. Within those six targeted mammals species, the Scimitar-horned oryx and Addax, extinct chadian wildlife since more than thirty years, where reintroduced in that protected area since 2016 for the first and 2020 for the second.
Threats
Habitat loss & degradation
Human-wildlife conflict
These species now have to share the same habitats as camels, goats, sheep and cattle. This research project aims to deepen the knowledge on their mechanisms for the ecological niche partition in order to support the ongoing conservation efforts.
Project objectives
- Assess plant diversity and distribution as key food resources for mammal species in OROAR.
- Describe the diet composition of the Scimitar-horned oryx and Addax to better understand ecological niche overlap with livestock species in OROAR.
- Evaluate the influence of major environmental factors on the movements of reintroduced antelope species.
Project activities
- Conduct phytosociological inventories and assess plant quality.
- Collect faecal samples and analyse diet composition.
- Analyse ecological movements and environmental variables using geospatial methods.
- Train local ecoguards and students in field data collection and statistical analysis.
This research project is implemented by Caleb Ngaba Waye Taroum, University of Neuchâtel.
