Nature conservation and Tourism: Introduction - Despite the many factors which are restricting tourism world-wide 286 700 tourists visited the Administration game reserves and resorts in the course of 1977 as compared to 265 633 during 1976. Structurally, tourist and spending patterns have changed and the number of visitors to South West Africa from outside the Territory increased by approximately 8 909 as compared to the number of visitors for 1976. In the nature conservation field there has been marked progress. The following highlights and problems characterised 1977: As from 1977 parts of the Skeleton Coast Park have been opened for organised tourism throughout the year. For the first time the income of farmers from their game exceeded R5 million. In comparison with 1976 when 127 persons were involved in cases of illegal hunting, 136 persons were prosecuted during 1977. The fines totalled R48 625,60 as compared to R60 378,00 for 1976 In areas where farmers established game protection societies incidents of illegal hunting decreased by up to 90%. An investigation into the ecology of the entire Kuiseb River has now been inaugurated. The object of the investigation is to determine the optimum utilisation of the natural resourcese with the least possible environmental damage of the area in question. Various state departments, the Administration of South West Africa, the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, the State Museum and universities are participating. During June 1977, 56 sable antelope, 15 tsessebe and six reed-buck were captured in Western Caprivi and after a three months' quarantine period were transferred by air to Otjovasandu in the Etosha National Park. Some of these animals will eventually be transferred to the Waterberg Plateau Park where they formerly occurred. The most important breeding place of the lappet-faced vulture is the Namib Desert Park and surveys have shown bird that the breeding success of this bird has decreased considerably as a result of various turbance factors.