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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Annual counts were extended to include Ai-Ais Hot Springs in 2022. Three transects were counted representing an area of around 407 km² . More years of data are required before any trends or estimates can be generated.
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Hardap Naute Ai_Ais Game Count 2022.pdf | 1009.96 KB |
The fundamental purpose of game counts in communal areas is to inform conservancies and MEFT of wildlife trends for the purposes of adaptive management of resources. While estimates of species numbers are provided, these should only be considered as an approximate guide to species abundance.
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Kavango poster 2022 final.pdf | 651.24 KB |
The fundamental purpose of game counts in communal areas is to inform conservancies and MEFT of wildlife trends for the purposes of adaptive management of resources. While estimates for some species are provided, these should only be considered an approximate guide to species abundance.
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North Central Game Count 2022_final.pdf | 767.98 KB |
The dramatic spike in the proportion of gemsbok seen in Hobatere relative to the rest of the north-west reflects the decline in animal numbers in communal conservancies. In 2021, Palmwag, Etendeka and Hobatere concessions (only 9% of the total area) accounted for 60% of all gemsbok seen in the north-west. Due to the higher number of animals seen in Orupembe conservancy in 2022 this ratio dropped to 31%.
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North West Game Count_Hobatere 2022 final.pdf | 451.43 KB |
Game counts in north-west Namibia: Conservancies north of the veterinary fence - May 2022.
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North West Game Count_North of Vet Fence 2022 final.pdf | 537.95 KB |
The Palmwag and Etendeka concession areas are important refuges for at least five of the main game species. The contrast in trends between kudu and gemsbok is noteworthy. While gemsbok numbers have declined dramatically throughout the entire north-west region, the contribution of the concessions has spiked in recent years. With kudu the contribution of concessions to numbers has dropped dramatically in the same period suggesting a different causal mechanism for the decline in numbers of the two species.
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North West Game Count_Palmwag and Etendeka 2022 final.pdf | 525.8 KB |
Wildlife populations in north-west Namibia were severely impacted in the 1980s by a combination of severe drought and poaching. Community conservation, formalised in 1996 through conservancies facilitated an increase in wildlife numbers through controlled utilisation and effective control of poaching. Between 1996 and 2012 most species experienced stable or growing population trends. However, a subsequent prolonged dry phase has resulted in a steady decline in populations of many game species. It is unclear how much illegal harvesting has contributed to this decline.
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North West Game Count_Regional 2022 final.pdf | 685.54 KB |
Game counts in north-west Namibia: Conservancies south of the veterinary fence - May 2022.
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North West Game Count_South of Vet Fence 2022 final.pdf | 560.8 KB |
Line transects were initiated in 2017 and represent almost half of the total area of the conservancy and include most of the waterholes. The area not covered by transects has low animal densities due to reduced habitat suitability and people pressure. Transect counts have recorded 25 species including 6 predator species. Based on average spoor sightings and Event Book records, hyaena are the most common predator, followed by wild dog, leopard and jackal. The top 3 species in terms of sightings between 2017 and 2022 included wildebeest, elephant and kudu.
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Nyae Nyae transect count 2022 Final.pdf | 670.9 KB |
Nyae Nyae and N#a-Jaqna Conservancies - Full moon water counts 2022.
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Nyae Nyae waterhole 2022 Final.pdf | 597.64 KB |
Game counts in southern Namibia: June 2022.
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Southern Conservancy Game Count 2022 Final.pdf | 778.48 KB |
Counts were undertaken at waterholes in the escarpment zone of north west Namibia. In 2018,18 waterholes in 7 conservancies were counted while in 2019, 2020 and 2021, the number of waterholes was increased to around 26 covering 10 conservancies. Counts were undertaken over a period of 2, 3 or 4 days during which time all animals seen were counted. Game species differ in the frequency with which they need to visit water resources with some able to acquire much of their hydration needs through foraging.
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Waterholes_NW_poster_2022_Final.pdf | 468.62 KB |
Estimates were calculated for the current year using DISTANCE. In most cases at least the last 5 years of data were used in analysis to generate a detection profile for each species. Several conservancies have been grouped due to the low numbers of animals recorded. The bottom row of the table (hyphenated) numbers = 95% Confidence Intervals. In Sikunga, very few sightings have ever been recorded (60 for all species since 2011) and no sensible estimates for any species can be derived for this area.
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Zambezi Game Count_ East 2022.pdf | 522.67 KB |
Game counts in Bwabwata N.P. - August 2022.
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Zambezi Game Count_Bwabwata 2022.pdf | 632.72 KB |
Since 2021 a boat transect has been undertaken along the Kwando river from the Angola border to the southern boundary of Mudumu National Park. The total transect length is 152 km. For each species, animals on each side of the river (and in the case of hippo, in the river,) are counted.
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Zambezi Game Count_River 2022.pdf | 377.41 KB |
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Zambezi Game Count_East 2020.pdf | 937.73 KB |
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Nyae Nyae waterhole 2020.pdf | 946.21 KB |
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Southern Conservancy Game Count 2020.pdf | 818.01 KB |
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Nyae Nyae transect count 2020 final.pdf | 1.2 MB |
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North Central Game Count 2020.pdf | 1.06 MB |
Counts were undertaken at waterholes in the escarpment zone of north west Namibia. In 2018,18 waterholes in 7 conservancies were counted while in 2019 and 2020, the number of waterholes was increased to 26 covering 10 conservancies. Counts were undertaken over a period of 2, 3 or 4 days during which time all animals seen were counted.
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Waterholes_NW_poster_2020 final.pdf | 509.47 KB |
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North West Game Count_Hobatere 2020.pdf | 623.55 KB |
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North West Game Count_Palmwag and Etendeka 2020.pdf | 682.97 KB |
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North West Game Count_South of Vet Fence 2020.pdf | 689.61 KB |
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North West Game Count_North of Vet Fence 2020.pdf | 679.95 KB |
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North West Game Count_Regional 2020.pdf | 693.43 KB |
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Hardap and Naute Game Count 2020.pdf | 774.7 KB |
Robust abundance estimates of wild animal populations are needed to inform management policies and are often obtained through mark–recapture (MR) studies. Visual methods are commonly used, which limits data collection to daylight hours and good weather conditions. Passive acoustic monitoring offers an alternative, particularly if acoustic cues are naturally produced and individually distinctive. Here we investigate the potential of using individually distinctive signature whistles in a MR framework and evaluate different components of study design.
Knowledge of a population’s abundance is of primary importance for conservation management. However, robust estimates of abundance are often difficult to obtain, especially for cetaceans which spend most of their lives submerged. Cetacean abundance is commonly estimated using aerial or vessel-based line transect surveys and distance sampling methods. During 2012–2014, the first line transect surveys to estimate cetacean abundance were conducted in Namibian waters.
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First Abundance Estimates of Heavisides and Dusky Dolphin off Namibia.pdf | 5.23 MB |
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Zambezi Game Count_Bwabwata 2020.pdf | 1.22 MB |
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 |
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 rapid improvement of camera traps in recent decades has revolutionized biodiversity monitoring. Despite clear applications in conservation biology, camera traps have seldom been used to model the abundance of unmarked animal populations. The goals of this review are to summarize the challenges facing abundance estimation of unmarked animals, present an overview of existing analytical frameworks, and provide guidance for practitioners seeking a suitable method.
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Abundance estimation of unmarked animals based on camera_trap data.pdf | 1.35 MB |
Estimating abundance of wildlife populations can be challenging and costly, especially for species that are difficult to detect and that live at low densities, such as cougars (Puma concolor). Remote, motion‐sensitive cameras are a relatively efficient monitoring tool, but most abundance estimation techniques using remote cameras rely on some or all of the population being uniquely identifiable. Recently developed methods estimate abundance from encounter rates with remote cameras and do not require identifiable individuals.
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Estimating abundance of an unmarked_low_density species using cameras.pdf | 590.21 KB |
Leopards are among the most enchanting big cats in the world. Their beauty, raw power and elusiveness have fascinated humans through the ages. Our fascination with leopards is a double-edged sword for the big cat, however. The value we place on seeing this beautiful big cat draws tourists and provides funding for conservation.
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Counting Cats_An updated national leopard survey for Namibia.pdf | 2.58 MB |
An overview of elephant conservation and management in Namibia.
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An overview of elephant conservation and management in Namibia.pdf | 5.72 MB |
The Okavango River in Namibia, from the Angolan border just northwest of the bridge on the Trans-Caprivi highway south to the Botswana border; the entire length of the Kwandu-Linyanti-Lake Liambezi-Chobe system, including the whole Mamili National Park; and the Zambezi River for its entire length on Namibia's border, including parts of the adjacent East Caprivi floodplains, were survey from the air in September 2007.
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Status of Wattled Cranes on the floodplains of north_east Namibia_2007.pdf | 850.79 KB |
Elephants occur across the entire north of Namibia with two main sub-populations in the north-east and the north-west. In 2004 the total population was estimated at over 16,000 animals and, allowing for underestimates on aerial surveys, the true number in 2007 is likely to be closer to 20,000. The north-western population is about 4,000 animals and includes the elephants in Etosha. This appears to be growing at about 3.3% per annum and expanding its range.
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Namibia elephant management plan_December 2007.pdf | 853.58 KB |
Summary of game count in north west in 2007: route statistics, animals seen, population estimates, trends.
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NW game count poster 2007.pdf | 155.13 KB |