Current view: Text account
Site description (2001 baseline):
Site location and context
The site, the third-largest salt-lake in Tunisia, is located 25 km south-west of Sousse and 20 km east-south-east of Kairouan. It usually dries out in summer, but occasionally retains water all year. Salinity is very high and salt crystals sometimes remain on the substrate even when there is water in the lake. The vegetation is mainly halophytic with
Arthrocnemum,
Salicornia and
Suaeda species as dominants.
See Box for key species. The main importance of Sidi el Hani is that it is big enough in very wet years to provide security for
Phoenicopterus ruber to nest on the uninhabited islands in the centre. Wintering
Grus grus which feed on the surrounding plains may also roost on the water. In very wet years, the salinity of the water may decrease sufficiently to provide wintering habitat for other waterbirds. In addition, three species of the Mediterranean North Africa biome (A01) have been recorded (see Table 2).
Non-bird biodiversity: None known to BirdLife International.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
Threats include hunting and disturbance by feral dogs.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Sebkhet Sidi El Hani (Tunisia). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/sebkhet-sidi-el-hani-iba-tunisia on 23/11/2024.
