From 24 November to 12 December 2020, the Pendjari national park and the W national park in Benin carried out the largest regional initiative for the installation of satellite collars on a total of 25 elephants and 14 antelopes in this large cross-border complex.
With a view to safeguarding the Outstanding Universal Value of the property, this initiative aimed to increase monitoring and ensure the protection of these species in these two national parks, which are components of the W-Arly-Pendjari Complex World Heritage site (Benin, Burkina Faso, Niger). Both parks are managed by conservation non-profit African Parks through a partnership with the Ministry of Living Environment and Sustainable Development, the National Agency for Heritage Promotion and Tourism Development (ANPT), and the National Centre for the Management of Wildlife Reserves (CENAGREF).
The collaring initiative was supported by UNESCO with funding from Norway and the Elephant Crisis Fund for W National Park-Benin; and the support of The Wyss Foundation, Elephant Crisis Fund, The Wildcat Foundation, FSOA, National Geographic Society for Pendjari National Park. This initiative also aimed to provide precise information on the population dynamics of these species and the various threats to them, with a view to strengthen conservation efforts in these parks. Moreover, this project is a true testimony of the commitment of the actors in the revitalisation of these protected areas. This is the largest operation of its kind implemented by African Parks in the WAP Complex.
The WAP complex is home to the largest remaining population of elephants in West Africa. In addition to the only viable populations of lion, cheetah and topi, it represents the most important continuum of terrestrial, semi-aquatic and aquatic ecosystems in the West African savannah belt and is home to animal species that have disappeared or are extremely threatened in most West African countries. However, its elephant population has declined over several decades due to the persistent threat of poaching. Satellite collars will enable teams to closely monitor the animals' movements and provide valuable information that will help improve their protection and reduce human-wildlife conflicts.
