The terrestrial fauna
Tunisia is home to 78 mammal species, 28 of which are rare and 7 protected or endangered, such as the Atlas lion (eradicated in 1927) and the cheetah. The country is world-renowned for the diversity of its reptile class. Among these, the lizard (whiptail) is hunted and killed to be sold stuffed to tourists or for its healing flesh. Tunisia has seen the disappearance of many species, including elephants, cheetahs and lynxes. Wild animals such as lions, panthers and leopards have been extinct for almost a century. The Tunisian Society for the Protection of Animals has set up a conservation and breeding program for endangered species. Efforts are currently underway to reintroduce some of these species, such as mouflons and antelopes.
In the desert, lizards, rodents, snakes and scorpions can be found, with fennecs (desert foxes) more difficult to find, and dromedaries without any problems. During the Douz festival, the sloughi takes pride of place. It's the "greyhound of the desert", smaller than the greyhound of our lands, and highly prized for hunting small game and catching prey. Elegant and majestic, this short-haired greyhound is the only dog tolerated in Bedouin tents. Also known as the "desert greyhound", this fragile canine is one of the rarest breeds of greyhound in the West. To the south-west of Bizerte (75 km north of Tunis in the Ichkeul National Park), we come across water buffalo, wild boar (found at the gateway to the desert), porcupine and otter. In Djerba, mongooses, jackals, hyenas, reptiles, fennecs and dromedaries. The Chaâmbi National Park is home to gazelles, mouflons, hyenas, eagles, vultures and falcons.
Focus on the dromedary
The dromedary appeared in Tunisia around the 4th century AD, changing the nomadic habits of the Berber tribes. Accustomed to scorching heat and long meharees (treks), its endurance contributed to the conquest and trade projects of these populations. With a dromedary, nothing is lost. And everything is the object of genuine respect that borders on worship: its hair, when shed, provides the material needed to make sturdy carpets and clothes; its milk, richer than that of cows and goats, is a prized foodstuff, while its excrement has powerful therapeutic virtues, particularly for snake bites. The dromedary's proverbial sobriety enables it to go up to 40 days without drinking. Its nostrils close when the wind picks up, allowing this "vessel of the desert" to continue walking unhindered when the simoun blows, and its feet, equipped with round pads, prevent it from getting bogged down where the most modern 4x4s won't venture. This quadruped can cover 180 kilometers in a single day and fast for a week. On the other hand, when it drinks, it can consume up to a hundred liters, equivalent to one-sixth of its weight - 600 kilos! It can carry a load of 350 kg without batting an eyelid, and lives for around 40 years.
The birds
395 bird species have been recorded in Tunisia, including extinct species. This fauna is made up of sedentary species and those that migrate during the winter, when the birds return to the wetlands. The Moussier's redstart is Tunisia's only endemic species. The country boasts numerous national parks where you can observe the local fauna. Classified as a "biosphere reserve" by Unesco in 1977, the Bou Hedma national park, south-west of Sfax, is home to wading birds such as the bustard, whose meat is highly prized; the ostrich has also been introduced. In the Ichkeul National Park, numerous bird species are recorded in winter. The marshes of the Gulf of Gabès are home to flamingos, gulls and waders. Eagles and falcons also roam the Tunisian skies; Eleonora's falcon, for example, is found in the La Galite archipelago. Many birds breed on this small islet, as well as on those of Zembra and Zembretta. Djerba is also a stopover for migratory birds such as pink flamingos.
The marine fauna
Little is known about this fauna, and studies on the subject are lacking. However, Tunisian waters have a large population of invertebrates (molluscs, crustaceans, sponges, etc.). The vertebrate population that populates its waters is made up of mammals, although the monk seal seems to have disappeared. The Gulf of Gabès is rich in seabirds and is home to a few estuary sharks. Sea turtles are protected. There are also 59 species of cartilaginous fish and 227 of bony fish (out of 532 in the Mediterranean).
A flora adapted to the Tunisian subtropical climate
The presence of vegetation in Tunisia depends on its resistance to drought, especially in summer, as the hot southerly winds pose a serious threat to plants and trees. With their small, rough leaves that limit evaporation, cork oaks, holm oaks and wild olive trees are resilient. Aleppo pine is also highly resistant. It's the herbaceous plants that suffer: they wither and dry out. Between the Mediterranean Sahel and the Sahara, only esparto, a grass used to make ropes, espadrilles and printing paper, and hemp, whose leaves are used to make fabrics, are resistant. In the desert, perennial grasses penetrate several meters into the soil to store moisture and resist the sirocco. The tamarisk allows the wind to pass through while providing shade, and bivouacs are generally made near watering holes in areas where tamarisk grows. In the evening, the dead wood is very useful for preparing the campfire. Date palms grow in the vicinity of the el-Djérid, el-Fejej and el-Rharsa chotts, thanks to underground aquifers. Djerba and the Zarzis peninsula escape drought thanks to a Mediterranean crown. To sum up, Tunisia's flora is made up of orchids, trees (pine, thuja, prickly pear, cypress, juniper, Sodom apple, oak, poplar, tamarisk, olive, pistachio, date palm, oleander...). Acacia faux-gommier is the only acacia species indigenous to Tunisia, with a protected population in Bouhedma National Park.
His majesty the palm tree
Here, the date palm is king. It is used on the island, as it is throughout the country, in a thousand different ways. But if this tree is so precious, it's not because of its dates, of mediocre quality and abandoned to the animals. Its value lies in its palms, trunk and sap. Once cut, the palms are used in fixed fisheries. They are also used to make traps, baskets, baskets, the famous petase, the Djerbian hat, and ropes. Their trunks are also used to build menzels. With their fruit removed, date bunches were used to stuff mattresses. Finally, fresh palm heart is a delicacy of choice. But it's the sap of this king tree, called lâghmi, that Djerbians appreciate most. It's a refreshing drink, which some compare to pineapple juice. Harvesting takes place from April to October. To do this, the king is stripped of his crown, his palms removed and a circular gutter dug out of the remaining plant cone. The dripping sap is collected in a gargoyle attached to the tree. Production is around 7 to 10 liters a day. Unfortunately, this operation can be fatal to the palm tree if the necessary precautions are not taken, and especially if a young, robust specimen is not chosen. The djebel leaves this meticulous work to the specialists, the men of the South. Palm trees are rented for 10 dinars a year. Generally the tenant of several units, the harvester comes every day to pick up the gargoulettes. In the morning, the freshly drained sap is collected during the night, and in the evening, the receptacle is reinstalled. You need to be in good physical shape to do this kind of job, where you have to climb from tree to tree all day long, using a rope, a ladder or simply your own strength.
The necessary protection of the Tunisian biodiversity
Tunisia is an integral part of the Mediterranean landscape. A genuine environmental culture has emerged, on which the well-being of present and future generations depends. While the countryside is affected by ecological problems to a lesser extent, the outskirts of major cities such as Tunis and Sfax are very concerned by pollution, notably with a landfill crisis in Sfax that pits residents against the state. The latter is therefore striving to harmonize environmental protection and economic development. The Ministry of the Environment and its supervisory bodies are now faced with new environmental emergencies, following a slackening of focus due to the crises of the last decade.
Priority issues include the fight against pollution and insect nuisance in the sebkhas, waste management with progressive recycling and reclamation, adaptation to climate change, and a focus on sustainable development in all sectors.
