Wildlife of
Senegal

Primary Threats

• Rising temperatures and more variable rainfall intensify drought stress in the Sahelian north (Ferlo), reducing pasture reliability and concentrating livestock and wildlife around scarce water points. Sea-level rise and stronger storm surges accelerate coastal erosion around the Cape Verde Peninsula/Thies coast and the Saloum/Casamance estuaries, driving saline intrusion that weakens mangroves, rice fields, and freshwater wetlands. Climate-driven shifts in river flow (notably the Senegal River system) affect flood pulses that sustain Djoudj wetland productivity and migratory bird food resources.
• Conversion and degradation of natural habitats occurs via expansion of rainfed agriculture and groundnut/market-garden cultivation, fuelwood harvesting around growing settlements, and fragmentation along roads and irrigation zones. Wetland edges are particularly pressured by cultivation, grazing, and settlement encroachment, reducing buffer habitat for waterbirds and altering nesting/roosting areas.
• Hydrological alteration from dams and river regulation in the Senegal River basin changes seasonal flooding patterns that maintain wetlands such as Djoudj, affecting fish recruitment and invertebrate productivity for birds. In coastal/estuarine zones, diking and water-control structures for rice and salt production can modify tidal exchange, altering salinity regimes that mangroves and estuarine fauna depend on.
• Artisanal and industrial fishing pressure in the Atlantic EEZ and nearshore waters-combined with high local dependence on fish protein-drives declines in some demersal and small pelagic stocks. In estuaries (Saloum, Casamance), intense harvesting of fish and shellfish can reduce nursery function, while competition and compliance challenges (IUU fishing, gear conflicts) strain management.
• Urban and industrial effluents around Dakar and other coastal towns contribute to marine and nearshore pollution (nutrients, plastics, and untreated wastewater), impacting coastal habitats and fisheries. Agricultural runoff (fertilizers/pesticides) and solid waste accumulation can degrade wetland water quality in populated catchments, affecting aquatic food webs important to migratory birds.
• Expansion of cropland and irrigated schemes increases pressure on savanna woodlands and wetland margins. In the north and along the Senegal River valley, irrigation and intensification can displace natural floodplain habitats, while in the south (Casamance), mosaic expansion fragments wooded habitats and increases edge effects near protected areas.
• Fuelwood and charcoal demand-especially supplying urban markets-drives woodland degradation and selective cutting around accessible areas and transport corridors. In some estuarine zones, cutting of mangrove wood for smoking fish and construction can degrade mangrove structure where restoration/enforcement is weak.
• In and around large protected areas (notably the Niokolo-Koba landscape), crop-raiding and livestock predation incidents can reduce local tolerance for wildlife, particularly where livelihoods are vulnerable and compensation/mitigation options are limited. In pastoral zones, competition for water points can heighten conflict dynamics between people, livestock, and wildlife.
• Illegal hunting and snaring persist in some rural landscapes, affecting antelope and other wildlife outside core protected areas. In wetlands and floodplains, hunting pressure can also affect waterbirds if enforcement lapses during migration/wintering seasons.
• Localized trade in bushmeat and occasional trafficking of protected species can occur along transport routes and borders, with risks heightened by porous borders and limited enforcement resources. While not a dominant national driver relative to habitat and fisheries pressures, it can be significant for particular taxa and hotspots.
• Road improvements, coastal development, and expanding port/industrial zones (especially near Dakar and along key corridors) fragment habitats and increase disturbance. Coastal protection works and sand extraction linked to construction can alter sediment dynamics, compounding erosion and affecting nesting/roosting shorebirds in some areas.
• Overharvest of mangrove-associated resources (wood, oysters, and other shellfish) and heavy grazing pressure in semi-arid rangelands can reduce ecosystem resilience. In drought years, intensified grazing and wood collection near villages and boreholes can accelerate vegetation loss and soil degradation.
• High visitation and local use of wetlands and beaches (tourism, fishing camps, harvesting) can disturb nesting/roosting birds in key sites such as Djoudj and the Saloum Delta if access and seasonal restrictions are not well managed. Vehicle traffic on beaches and near dunes can degrade sensitive coastal habitats.
• Changes in water regimes and crowding of birds at shrinking wetlands during dry periods can increase vulnerability to avian disease outbreaks. For livestock-wildlife interfaces, disease risks can rise where pastoralism intensifies around shared water sources, indirectly impacting wildlife health and conservation attitudes.