Am Timan, Chad

Characterised by perennial river systems, rich floodplains, and seasonal wildlife migrations, Zakouma National Park is an uplifting story of revival for this ecoregion, which stretches across the width of Africa to the south of the Sahara Desert. Once a stronghold for well over 4,000 elephant, by 2010 the park had lost 90% to ivory poachers. Nevertheless, in that same year, the Government of Chad invited African Parks into a long-term agreement to manage Zakouma National Park, protect its remaining wildlife, and re-establish stability for the surrounding communities. With the overhaul of the park’s conservation law enforcement and community engagement strategies in place, the results were palpable. Wildlife numbers began to increase and by 2016, poaching was virtually eliminated. Zakouma became known as a place of safety, a source of employment, and a service provider to communities.

Building on this success, in 2017 African Parks was invited by the government to manage the neighbouring Siniaka-Minia Wildlife Reserve (SMWR) and Bahr Salamat Faunal Reserve (BSFR), as well as adjoining wildlife corridors, thereby giving African Parks the mandate to manage the entire Greater Zakouma Ecosystem (GZE) of 28,162 km2 and have an even greater impact for biodiversity and local communities.

With the courage and persistence of its diverse people, Zakouma National Park and its greater region are excellent examples of what is possible when partnerships are formed with a common vision to protect biodiversity for the sake of people and wildlife.

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