Greater Kudu - Chad

The most productive archaeological sites in Africa are located in Chad. The Borkou region in Northern Chad revealed a hominid skull dating to 7 million years ago. Being the oldest fossil find of this type in the world adds strong credibility to the “Out of Africa” theory in regards to humans having originated in Africa.

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Tragelaphus strepsiceros- Female greater kudus and their offspring form small herds rarely exceeding 40 individuals; males tend to lead solitary lives. Younger males do form bachelor herds or attach themselves to an older bull. The natural coloring of the kudu provides excellent camouflage against predators. The kudu will hold its ground when threatened and wait for the danger to pass before making any attempts trying to outrun a hyena, lion, or leopard. Despite their long legs and lean bodies, greater kudus are not fast runners.

Greater Kudu - Chad

Tragelophus strepsiceros - With heights ranging from 1 to 1.5 meters, the greater kudu is the second tallest antelope in the world; the great eland is the tallest. Males and females are equal in height, but males are much heavier. Both sexes have a short crest and the males have the addition of a tasseled dewlap hanging from their chin. Though not endangered, the kudu’s range is being reduced to smaller areas, forcing them to struggle for the fewer food sources and territory available.

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Lake Chad lies in an endorheic basin, a closed natural reservoir with no outlet to other bodies of water. The waters of Lake Chad are replenished by seasonal rains and one large river, the Chari. Water is lost primarily through evaporation and irrigation. The lake provides water for approximately 70 million people living in the four countries sharing the lake: Chad, Cameroon, Niger, and Nigeria. Changing climate patterns and the high demands placed on Lake Chad have caused a drastic shrinkage of the lake.

The Toubou - Chad

Found primarily in Chad, Libya, Niger, and Sudan, the Toubou consist of two smaller ethnic groups, the Teda and Dazagra people. The Toubou are semi-nomadic herders traveling between scattered oasis, wadis, and wells within the territories of each clan. Animal husbandry includes tending cattle and sheep, but focuses on raising camels; a family’s wealth and status is dependent on how many camels they own. Fitted with saddles, Toubou camels provide recreational and practical uses; they are trained for ceremonial racing or used for traveling between settlements. Adapt as camel riders, the Toubou had a long history of being fierce warriors patrolling the trade routes across the Northern Sahara. The Toubou speak Tebu, part of the western branch of the Nilo-Saharan languages. The Toubou population is estimated at less than one million with more than half residing in Chad.