Haradere

Haradere is one of Somalia's nine wildlife reserves, most of which have had little formal protection or management since the collapse of the central government in 1991.^[1] The reserve shares its name with the town of Harardhere in the Mudug region, at about 4°39′ N, 47°51′ E.^[2]

The town of Harardhere, capital of Harardhere District in Mudug, had a population of about 65,543 as of 2005. It was controlled by al-Shabaab from at least 2012 to 2023, and the Somali Armed Forces recaptured it on 16 January 2023.^[2]

Eleven wildlife areas have been declared in Somalia since the 1970s, but only two were thought to be functional, and no formal protection has been offered to any of them since the early 1990s.^[3]

The town of Harardhere was under al-Shabaab control until January 2023, and travellers should check current government travel advice before considering any visit.^[2]

Nature Somalia states that no protected areas remained functional after 1991 and that elephant populations declined by 95% since 1979 across the country.^[4]