Djoudj National Bird Sanctuary

Saint-Louis

Djoudj National Bird Sanctuary, located on the southeast bank of the Senegal River near Saint-Louis, Senegal, is a premier wetland habitat attracting almost 400 bird species. It serves as a crucial stopover for migratory birds crossing the Sahara, with pelicans and flamingos being the most prominent. The sanctuary is especially significant for aquatic warblers migrating from Europe, representing their most important wintering site globally. Spanning 16,000 hectares, it supports nearly three million birds, making it the world's third largest ornithological reserve. Besides birds, the park is home to diverse wildlife including large populations of crocodiles and manatees. The sanctuary was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site but was listed as endangered in 1984 due to the invasive giant salvinia plant threatening native vegetation; it was removed from the endangered list in 2006. Environmental challenges persist, particularly after the 1988 construction of the Diama Dam, which caused water level changes, desalinization, and silting, affecting the ecosystem and promoting proliferation of typhas and Phragmites plants. A monitoring program for avian flu was initiated in 2006 despite no reported cases in Senegal. Djoudj remains a vital conservation area and a spectacular destination for birdwatchers and nature enthusiasts.