Djoudj National Bird Sanctuary


World Heritage Identification Number: 25

World Heritage since: 1981

Category: Natural Heritage

Transboundary Heritage: No

Endangered Heritage: No

Country: 🇸🇳 Senegal

Continent: Africa

UNESCO World Region: Africa

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Djoudj National Bird Sanctuary: A Vital Haven for Avian Species

The Djoudj National Bird Sanctuary, inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1981, stands as a testament to the rich biodiversity found within the Senegal River delta. This expansive wetland, spanning over 16,000 hectares, is a significant ecosystem that serves as a critical habitat for approximately 1.5 million birds.

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UNESCO Description of the World Heritage Site

Situated in the Senegal River delta, the Djoudj Sanctuary is a wetland of 16,000 ha, comprising a large lake surrounded by streams, ponds and backwaters. It forms a living but fragile sanctuary for some 1.5 million birds, such as the white pelican, the purple heron, the African spoonbill, the great egret and the cormorant.

Encyclopedia Record: Djoudj National Bird Sanctuary

The Djoudj National Bird Sanctuary lies on the southeast bank of the Senegal River in Senegal, in northern Biffeche, north east of St-Louis.

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Additional Site Details

Area: 16,000 hectares

UNESCO Criteria: (vii) — Contains superlative natural phenomena or beauty
(x) — Contains most important habitats for biodiversity

Coordinates: 16.414602 , -16.237906

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Image of Djoudj National Bird Sanctuary

Ji-Elle, Public domain

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Nearby World Heritage Sites

Island of Saint-Louis
52 km — Senegal
Island of Gorée
231 km — Senegal
Saloum Delta
288 km — Senegal
Stone Circles of Senegambia
312 km — Gambia, Senegal
Kunta Kinteh Island and Related Sites
345 km — Gambia

Country Information: Senegal

Flag of Senegal

Official Name: Republic of Senegal

Capital: Dakar

Continent: Africa

Population (2024): 18,501,984

Population (2023): 18,077,573

Population (2022): 17,651,103

Land Area: 192,530 sq km

Currency: West African CFA franc (XOF)

Country Data Sources

Last updated: January 18, 2026

Portions of the page Djoudj National Bird Sanctuary are based on data from UNESCO — World Heritage List Dataset and on text from the Wikipedia article Djoudj National Bird Sanctuary, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Changes made. Additional original content by World Heritage Explorer (WHE), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. WHE is not affiliated with UNESCO or the World Heritage Committee. Legal Notice. Privacy Policy.

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