This archive of reports of wildlife surveys in Namibia aims to:
Public access to information is a vital component of ensuring community engagement in prevalent issues. Wildlife surveys are critical to determine the health of wildlife populations and determine trends over time to guide conservation and management actions.
Wildlife surveys are done for different species using methods that are suited to counting them (e.g. by air or road) in their natural habitats. Such surveys need to be repeated over time to detect long-term trends and inform conservation managers. The Namibian government, non-governmental organisations and private reserves all conduct regular surveys covering different parts of Namibia and targeting different species. This archive will thus serve as a repository of our collective knowledge of the trends and status of a variety of species occurring throughout Namibia.
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This year's game count results showed the drastic decrease in game numbers, with gemsbok numbers being down 86% compared to 2019 and plains zebra and wildebeest down 93% and 97% respectively. Red hartebeest have all disappeared from the park as most of them died, a few were harvested, and a few got onto neighbouring properties. Only giraffe managed to increase, as 4 more calves were born over the last year, bringing the total to 22. Naturally, successful reproduction in the other game species over the past season has been very low.
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Gondwana Kalahari Park Game Count 2020.pdf | 965.72 KB |
The year’s results show a significant decrease in animals counted (-37%) and overall population estimate (-19%). The game harvesting operations done in the preceding year would have contributed to the lower game numbers. The northern sections of the park (zone 6, 7, 8 and 9) received the most rain and thus an overwhelming majority (53%) of the animals were counted in this area. For the first time in 8 years the park’s modelled carrying capacity is higher than the total grazer biomass (stocking rate).
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Gondwana Canyon Park Game Count 2020_poster.pdf | 1.7 MB |
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Summary of the 2018 winter wetland bird counts in Namibia.pdf | 360.78 KB |
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Gondwana Kalahari Park Game Count 2018.jpg | 3.15 MB |
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Gondwana Canyon Park Game Count 2018.jpg | 3.01 MB |
Carnivore populations face threats from increasing human populations and rapidly diminishing, suitable habitat. Large carnivores such as African lions (Panthera leo) commonly attack livestock on lands adjacent to protected areas. This can lead to human-wildlife conflict (HWC) events that result in retaliatory lion killings. Conflict is a primary driver of wild lion population declines which are estimated to have decreased by 43% in the last 20 years.
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Etosha National Park Carnivore Monitoring Project_Lion GPS_Satelllite Monitoring.pdf | 2.09 MB |
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Summary of the 2017 winter wetland bird counts in Namibia.pdf | 468.26 KB |
Vultures provide essential ecological services, yet are amongst the world's most threatened species with populations having declined by more than 95% within ten years in some places. The biggest factor causing this decline is the use of poison, either intentionally or unintentionally. Other factors causing declines are collision with and electrocution by powerlines, illegal harvesting for traditional medicines, habitat loss and drowning in reservoirs.
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Status assessment of Namibias vultures.pdf | 1.52 MB |
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Summary of the 2015 Winter Wetland Bird Counts in Namibia.pdf | 3.06 MB |
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Gondwana Kalahari Park game count 2016.jpg | 2.05 MB |
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Wetland bird counts in Namibia_a summary_2016.pdf | 8.86 MB |
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Gondwana Canyon Park Game Count 2016.jpg | 6.98 MB |
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Gondwana Kalahari Park Game Count 2016.jpg | 5.56 MB |
The species accounts are very detailed, doubtlessly benefitting from Peter's intimate and long-term knowledge of Botswana's birds. The range maps give one an immediate indication of where the bird occurs and the breeding bars give one an idea of when to expect the bird and when it breeds. These will prove handy when identifying e.g. migratory birds. The excellent illustrations show the birds in their local race and where sexes and ages differ, these are also illustrated. Perhaps one shortcoming of the illustrations is, that diagnostic features e.g.
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Book Review_Birds of Botswana.pdf | 346.34 KB |
Numbers of most species dropped during 2015 due to the effects of the drought & the lack of grazing. Although there were a few mortalities, many animals have moved to areas outside the park where conditions are more favourable. This is to be expected in an open system.
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Gondwana Canon Park game count 2015.pdf | 1.1 MB |
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Gondwana Kalahari Park annual game count 2015.pdf | 919.17 KB |
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Gondwana Namib Park game count June 2015.pdf | 1.04 MB |
Summary of the 2015 Summer Wetland Bird Counts in Namibia.
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Summary of the 2015 Summer Wetland Bird Counts in Namibia.pdf | 5.15 MB |
Many long-distance migrating shorebird (i.e., sandpipers, plovers, flamingos, oystercatchers) populations are declining. Although regular shorebird monitoring programs exist worldwide, most estimates of shorebird population trends and sizes are poor or nonexistent. We built a state-space model to estimate shorebird population trends. Compared with more commonly used methods of trend estimation, state-space models are more mechanistic, allow for the separation of observation and state process, and can easily accommodate multivariate time series and nonlinear trends.
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Summary of the 2013 Winter Wetland Bird Counts in Namibia.pdf | 476.72 KB |
Summary of the 2014 Summer Wetland Bird counts in Namibia.
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Gondwana Namib Park game count 2014.pdf | 2.29 MB |
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Summary of the 2013 Summer Wetland Bird Counts in Namibia.pdf | 245.98 KB |
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Summary of the 2012 winter wetland bird counts in Namibia.pdf | 142.5 KB |
The following is a summary of waterbird count data for selected species in Namibia, covering the period 1977 to December 2008.
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Trends in Namibian Waterbird Populations 9 Part 1.pdf | 592.85 KB |
Mountain Zebra numbers were up in 2013 due to movement into the park from the west to take advantage of the artificial waters and better grazing.
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Gondwana Canon Park game count 2013.pdf | 954.13 KB |
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Gondwana Kalahari Park game count 2013.pdf | 1009.24 KB |
An aerial survey specifically aimed at mountain zebra (Equus zebra hartmannae) was carried out by the survey unit of the Ministry of Environment and Tourism from 19 to 24 June 2013. The survey covered the Naukluft Mountains in the Namib-Naukluft Park and a large area of the Khomas Hochland west of Windhoek, between the Swakop River in the north and the Naukluft Mountains in the south (Figure 1). The survey was carried out using a Bell Jet Ranger 206 helicopter (V5-HIR) with a crew of four using standard aerial survey methodology.
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Report on a mountain zebra aerial survey in the Naukluft and Khomas Hochland_19 to 24 June 2013.pdf | 577.25 KB |
The sixth article in the series on trends in Namibian waterbird populations summarises count data for African Spoonbill, Hamerkop, Greater and Lesser Flamingo and Wattled Crane for the period 1977 to December 2008. For each species the Red Data Book (RDB) status, both global and Namibian, is given, the population trend as per Wetlands International, the number of times the species was counted, the number of times it has passed the 1% population criterion, the maximum count and the sites where it has passed the 1% population criterion.
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Trends in Namibian Waterbird Populations 6_Spoonbill_Hamerkop_Flamingos and Cranes.pdf | 515.94 KB |
Conducting aerial surveys is one of the core functions of the Ministry of Environment and Tourism. The surveys are essential management tools, allowing for informed decision making. Aerial surveys have been conducted in Etosha National Park since 1968. Apart from a series of elephant surveys, these surveys were strictly speaking not comparable as they were undertaken at irregular intervals with different sampling intensities and area cover. The first comprehensive multi-species sample count was conducted in 1995, and repeated in 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2005 and 2010.
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2012 Etosha NP_Aerial census 2012.pdf | 656.25 KB |
The winter wetland bird counts were conducted during July and August 2011 at 32 sites throughout Namibia. The abnormal rainy season experienced in most parts of the country had resulted in plenty of water still being in the field and this was evident in the counts. Lower numbers than usual were recorded at most sites and the Walvis Bay count was the lowest since regular counts were started. The low numbers are due to an almost complete absence of flamingos, lower than usual numbers of geese and ducks and the absence of certain waders e.g.
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Report on the Winter 2011 Wetland Bird Counts in Namibia.pdf | 637.69 KB |
The eighth article in the series on trends in Namibian waterbird populations summarizes count data for six species for the period 1977 to December 2008. For each species the Red Data Book (RDB) status, both global and Namibian, is given, the population trend as per Wetlands International, the number of times the species was counted, the number of times it has passed the 1% population criterion, the maximum count and the sites where it has passed the 1% population criterion.
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Trends in Namibian Waterbird Populations_Rails_Gallinules_Coot and Jacana.pdf | 552.14 KB |
Wetland bird counts were once again conducted throughout Namibia during the months of January and February 2012. A total of 33 sites were covered resulting in 262 833 birds of 112 species. For the first time since 2007 counts were also conducted in the Caprivi, on the Okavango and the Kwando Rivers. The effects of the good rainy seasons over the past few years are still very evident with low numbers of especially flamingos and ducks recorded at the coast.
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Summary of the 2012 Summer Wetland Bird Counts in Namibia.pdf | 169.7 KB |
This article continues the series on trends in Namibian waterbird populations and summarizes count data for ducks and geese for the period 1977 to December 2008. For each species the Red Data Book (RDB) status, both global and Namibian, is given, the population trend as per Wetlands International, the number of times the species was counted, the number of times it has passed the 1% population criterion, the maximum count and the sites where it has passed the 1% population criterion.
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Trends in Namibian Waterbird Populations 7_ Ducks and Geese.pdf | 391.65 KB |
This article continues the series on trends in Namibian waterbird populations and summarizes count data for ducks and geese for the period 1977 to December 2008. For each species the Red Data Book (RDB) status, both global and Namibian, is given, the population trend as per Wetlands International, the number of times the species was counted, the number of times it has passed the 1% population criterion, the maximum count and the sites where it has passed the 1% population criterion.
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Trends in Namibian Waterbird Populations 7_Ducks and Geese_1.pdf | 833.84 KB |
Springbok numbers were down during 2012 due to dispersal into broken hilly country to the west of the park. Where they were present, they were only found in small groups which could have resulted in under counting.
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Gondwana Canon Park game count 2012.pdf | 680.93 KB |
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Gondwana Kalahari Park game count 2012.pdf | 950.46 KB |
Numbers of some species were up in 2011 due to the effect of good rains. This also caused a decrease in Mountain Zebra numbers as they moved westwards out of the park.
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Gondwana Canon Park game count 2011.pdf | 955.49 KB |
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Gondwana Kalahari Park game count 2011.pdf | 570.52 KB |
The third article in the series on trends in Namibian waterbird populations summarises count data for cormorants and darter for the period 1977 to December 2008. For each species the Red Data Book (RDB) status, both global and Namibian, is given, the population trend as per Wetlands International, the number of times the species was counted, the number of times it has passed the 1% population criterion, the maximum count and the sites where it has passed the 1% population criterion.
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Trends in Namibian Waterbird Populations 3_Cormorants and Darter.pdf | 280.07 KB |
The fifth article in the series on trends in Namibian waterbird populations summarises count data for storks and ibises for the period 1977 to December 2008. For each species the Red Data Book (RDB) status, both global and Namibian, is given, the population trend as per Wetlands International, the number of times the species was counted, the number of times it has passed the 1% population criterion, the maximum count and the sites where it has passed the 1% population criterion.
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Trends in Namibian Waterbird Populations 5_Storks and Ibises.pdf | 473.91 KB |
This article continues the series on trends in Namibian waterbird populations and summarises count data for herons and egrets for the period 1977 to December 2008. For each species the Red Data Book (RDB) status, both global and Namibian, is given, the population trend as per Wetlands International, the number of times the species was counted, the number of times it has passed the 1% population criterion, the maximum count and the sites where it has passed the 1% population criterion.
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Trends in Namibian Waterbird Populations 4_Herons and Egrets Part 2.pdf | 489.09 KB |
Namibia was blessed with extraordinary rains in most parts of the country early in 2011 and this is evident in the results of the summer wetland bird counts. Access to many of the count sites was difficult due to the wet conditions. In fact, the count at Lake Oponono had to be abandoned because of the muddy conditions. Rain interrupted many counts and even at Sandwich Harbour the counters had to endure about two hours of pouring rain before continuing with the count. Oddly enough, Tsutsab Vlei, near Tsintsabis in northern Namibia, was bone dry when the counts were done.
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Summary of the 2011 Summer Wetland Bird Counts_44_3.pdf | 205.32 KB |
This article continues the series on trends in Namibian waterbird populations and summarises count data for herons and egrets for the period 1977 to December 2008. For each species the Red Data Book (RDB) status, both global and Namibian, is given, the population trend as per Wetlands International, the number of times the species was counted, the number of times it has passed the 1% population criterion, the maximum count and the sites where it has passed the 1% population criterion.
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Trends in Namibian Waterbird Populations 4_Herons and Egrets Part 1.pdf | 409.28 KB |
This is the last article in a series describing the results of regular wetland bird counts in Namibia. This paper looks at eight coastal sites, including two of Namibia's four Ramsar sites i.e. Sandwich Harbour and Walvis Bay. Unfortunately data for Namibia's other coastal Ramsar site, the Orange River Mouth, is incomplete and hence it has not been included in this analysis. (Larger scale replications of the graphs in this article are attached to the end of this edition).
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Wetland Bird Counts in Namibia 4_Coastal Wetlands.pdf | 594.91 KB |
January 2010 announced its arrival with welcome and wide-spread rain throughout Namibia. The result of this was that we were expecting bumper counts at many of the inland wetlands, although the two coastal heavyweights would be expected to contribute the majority in terms of numbers, as usual. During this count cycle 26 sites were counted, an increase on previous counts, in no small part due to the efforts of the Namibia Bird Club that is now counting many wetlands around Windhoek.
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Summary of the Summer 2010 Wetland Bird Counts in Namibia.pdf | 268.37 KB |
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Gondwana Canon Park game count 2010.pdf | 763.08 KB |
This is the third article in a series describing the results of regular wetland bird counts in Namibia and groups together inland sites where water is seasonally present as well as three sewage treatment plants. The article gives details for ten sites for which ten or more counts are available up to the end of 2008.
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Wetland Bird Counts in Namibia 3_Inland Wetlands.pdf | 446.93 KB |
In more than 100 countries, millions of waterbirds are counted each year. Wetlands International coordinates the International Waterbird Census (IWC) throughout the world and the data is used to e.g. designate Wetlands of International Importance and Important Bird Areas. Namibia has participated in these counts since 1990 and hence a considerable set of data has accumulated. Data is on hand for 1703 (as at July 2009) waterbird counts at 172 sites in Namibia. The earliest counts are from 1976 and a peak in terms of sites counted was reached in 1995 when 73 wetlands were counted…
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Wetland Bird Counts in Namibia 1_Introduction and Overview.pdf | 139.9 KB |
During the month of July 2009 volunteers once again participated in the winter wetland bird counts all over Namibia. A total of 27 wetlands were counted resulting in just over 99,000 birds of 87 species. The number of sites being counted is up thanks to the Namibia Bird Club, which is now conducting regular counts at Avis Dam, the Gammams (Windhoek) Sewage Works and Monte Christo. The Walvis Bay Ramsar site tops the list with over 50,000 birds, followed by Sandwich Harbour and the Mile 4 Saltworks.
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Summary of the 2009 Winter Wetland Bird Counts in Namibia.pdf | 151.03 KB |