Search results

Carnivore populations face threats from increasing human populations and rapidly diminishing, suitable habitat. Large carnivores such as African lions (Panthera leo) commonly range outside of their protected areas and attack livestock on adjacent farmlands. This can lead to human-carnivore conflict (HCC) events often resulting in retaliatory lion killings. HCC retaliation by poisoning the offending animals is highly costly to lions due to the species’ group hunting and feeding habits.

This research project deploys satellite tracking collars on ungulates in the GSNL  and monitors their movements as well as other environmental parameters. Its objective is to document movement corridors and identify impediments to migration routes for springbok, oryx and Hartmann’s mountain zebra. Stefanie Urban successfully completed her Bachelor of Natural Resources Management (Honours) project at NUST at the end of 2016. Her project report is available on request.

Of the animals that had a comparable number of location pings, Oryx 1768 on Keerweder, Hartmann's zebra 1771 on Solitaire and Oryx 1770 on Aandster moved the furthest daily distances with 9.57 km, 7.87 km and 7.35 km respectively. Three animals were collared at the end of July/ beginning of August, including Springbok 132 (after the last one with the same collar id. died in March) and 133, Hartmann's zebra 1775 and 1776. Hartmann's zebra 1776, which is currently ranging on Neuras, moved a considerable mean daily distance of 9.22 km.

Oryx 1770 and Zebra 1771 covered the most distance with 921.62 km and 877.36 km respectively (assuming a straight line between each ping). Mean daily distances have overall increased since the last period, possibly due to isolated rainfall during the period. Zebra 1773 has possibly been killed or the collar fell off, this is currently under investigation. Note: The mean daily distances in the last newsletter were not correct as they were distances between each ping. They should be multiplied by three to get the mean daily distance.

Etosha National Park has a long history of aerial game counts, the first experimental counts being conducted in the late 1960's. Only in the late 1980's were systematic sample counts introduced. A big advance in the actual procedure and analysis was made with the introduction of GPS and GIS software used since 1995. The 2000 census is the third census flown based on GPS transects and were GPS waypoints were recorded for sightings made.

Etosha National Park, hereafter referred to as Etosha, was counted as part of the first co-ordinated regional Elesmap census from 15 July to 3 August 1995. The aim of this report is to present the results of the elephant count, data for the other species will be presented separately. Etosha is a 23 000 km² conservation area surrounding a large saline pan. The vegetation is mainly open Mopane and Acacia savanna and short grass plains. Topography is mainly very flat, with only a few hills in the west. For a detailed description see inter alia le Roux et al.(1988).

Etosha National Park, hereafter referred to as Etosha, was counted as part of the first co-ordinated regional Elesmap census from 15 July to 3 August 1995. The aim of this report is to present the results of the elephant count, data for the other species will be presented separately. Etosha is a 23 000 km² conservation area surrounding a large saline pan. The vegetation is mainly open Mopane and Acacia savanna and short grass plains. Topography is mainly very flat, with only a few hills in the west. For a detailed description see inter alia le Roux et al.(1988).