The Djibouti francolin Francolinus ochropectus is a Critically Endangered species inhabiting only two mountainous areas in Djibouti, east Africa. The population is estimated to be only 500-1000 birds in its stronghold, the Forêt du Day in the Goda Massif, where only about 14-15 km2 of its preferred habitat remains.

The World Pheasant Association, with Djiboutian counterparts, has launched a conservation programme for the species. The first, exploratory, phase was carried out in February 2004 to assess the extent of the remaining habitat, undertake pilot work for detailed research on the species’ population and habitat requirements, initiate a questionnaire survey of local people, and build a consortium in Djibouti with conservation organisations, under the auspices of the Ministère de l’Habitat, de l’Urbanisme, de l’Environnement, et de l’Aménagement du Territoire. Click here for a pdf of the report of this phase.

Analysis of data from 2004 revealed that the francolin appears to be searching for habitat as close to the original juniper forest cover as possible, although many birds still occur in the wadis and in the lower, more open woodland at the end of the breeding season.

The second phase of field work was carried out in January-February 2006. The main focus of this phase was to capture and radio-tag birds in order to track them and see which habitats and part of the range they are using over the year. This project is on-going (click here to see a pdf of the second phase report).

Further trips and meetings have helped build capacity for francolin conservation in Djibouti. Additionally, research has been conducted by UK Masters students and this has greatly added to our knowledge of the francolin’s habitat requirements together with local people’s attitudes towards the project (click here for Zomo Fisher’s thesis on the decline of the Djibouti francolin and juniper woodland).

It is hoped that work towards regenerating the juniper forest can begin very soon with the establishment of a tree nursery in Day village, run by local people.