only town in the Ennedi Region. Rock art ranged from 8000 BP to 2000 BP. The Archei Region is found in the Southeast of Fada, and it contains an ancient waterhole; therefore, it is considered the center of Nomadic life in the Ennedi. It has painted art over 8000 years old. Manda Guéli, found in the Archei Region, with some of the most well-preserved artwork due to its high position, preventing weathering. Ehi Tighi, a rock formation known for a 3m long Archaic cow painting, was believed to be used as a refuge from slave hunters. There are depictions of both white and red creatures on the walls of the formation, including both men and women, as well as cows with distinct coat decorations. The Bachikele canyon and guelta of the Ennedi is extremely important ecologically for the region; it contains flora that is not found in any other areas of the Sahara and the Sahel. Research and outreach As rock art depictions have shown, there has been a decrease in fauna over time due to climatic changes, but also due to hunting and poaching. While the decrease in fauna has been a large issue in the area, vandalism has also taken a large toll on the site. For instance, suspected local youths defaced rock art at the Ennedi rock art site by scrawling their names on the art in French and Arabic, with the latest inscription from January 2017. Chad's minister of culture, Mahamat Saleh Haroun, described the situation, "It's an African story and they wanted to destroy that." While the head of UNESCO in Chad Abdelkerim Adoum Bahar believes the damage can be repaired, other organizations have since become involved. For example, the Trust for African Rock Art, in partnership with the Factum Foundation, has since documented Ennedi through photographs; their mission is to show the issues involved in protecting rock art. Due to both erosion and vandalism, the Ennedi has faced deterioration, but this art has now been recorded in 3D to raise awareness about the beauty of this site. Films have also been made about this landscape, including Towers of the Ennedi, directed by Renan Ozturk to show the beauty of the Ennedi. References External links Natural Arches of the Ennedi Sahara's Secret Garden documentary about the Ennedi Plateau World Heritage Sites in Chad Sandstone formations Plateaus of Africa Landforms of Chad Sahara