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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BirdLife Botswana (the BirdLife partner in Botswana) identified and documented 12 sites as Important Bird Areas (IBAs) of Botswana. These sites are; Chobe National Park, Linyanti Swamps, Okavango Delta, Lake Ngami, Central Kalahari and Khutse Game Reserves (CKGR), Makgadikgadi Pans, Gemsbok National Park, Tswapong Hills, Mannyelanong Hill, Phakalane Sewage ponds, South Eastern Botswana and Bokaa Dam. Even though a huge amount of work has been done by BirdLife Botswana, monitoring efforts in these areas lack adequate co-ordination.
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2008_Botswana_IBA_monitoring_report.pdf | 1.81 MB |
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Gondwana Kalahari Park game count 2009.pdf | 451.66 KB |
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Gondwana Namib Park game count 2009.pdf | 539.94 KB |
This report presents the results of the third fixed-wing aerial wildlife census of the Caprivi River systems in Namibia conducted during September 2009. The purpose of this survey is to provide recent information on the distribution, abundance and trend of wildlife species including comparisons between protected areas and conservancies. The report compares the results of this survey with earlier fixed-wing aerial surveys conducted in September 2007 and August 2004.
Knowledge of a species' ranging behaviour is both fundamental to understanding its behavioural ecology and a prerequisite to planning its management. Few data exist on the spatial ecology of cheetahs Acinonyx jubatus outside protected areas, but such areas are particularly important to their conservation. Cheetahs on Namibian farmlands occupied exceptionally large home ranges, averaging 1651km2 (1594km2), with no detectable effect of sex, social grouping or seasonality.
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Spatial ecology of cheetahs.pdf | 1.27 MB |
Summary of game count in north west in 2008: route statistics, animals seen, population estimates, trends.
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NW game count poster 2008.pdf | 176.85 KB |
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Gondwana Canon Park game count 2008.pdf | 981.19 KB |
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Gondwana Kalahari Park game count 2008.pdf | 758.78 KB |
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Gondwana Namib Park game count 2008.pdf | 962.06 KB |
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 |
Namibia experienced some extreme rainfall in the first three months of 2006 and this, perhaps, is reflected in the results of the January wetland counts. One counter, Wilfred, could not get to his sites because it was too wet! In terms of numbers Walvis Bay leads by far but the Mahango yet again confirms its status as the most species rich birding destination in our country.
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Summary of the 2006 January Wetland Bird Counts in Namibia.doc | 52.5 KB |
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Summary of the 2004 July - 2006 July Wetland Bird Counts in Namibia.doc | 89 KB |
Summary of game count in north west in 2006: route statistics, animals seen, population estimates, trends.
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NW game count poster 2006.pdf | 154 KB |
Namibia's loyal wetland bird counters once again delivered the goods in July/August in the twice annual wetland bird counts. In total 141704 birds of 112 species were counted at 21 localities.
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Summary of the 2005 July Wetland Bird Counts in Namibia.doc | 26 KB |
Summary of game count in north west in 2005: route statistics, animals seen, population estimates, trends.
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NW game count poster 2005.pdf | 839.07 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 and 2004.
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Etosha NP_NP2005_Survey_Report.pdf | 939.26 KB |
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North west aerial survey 2005.pdf | 2.87 MB |
Areas surveyed: The Okavango River in Namibia, from just northwest 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 Mamili National Park; and the Zambezi river for its entire length on Namibia's border, including parts of the adjacent East Caprivi floodplains.
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Wattled Crane Survey_2004.pdf | 1.02 MB |
This study has provided baseline data on crocodile numbers from aerial and spotlight counts. These data can be used with the results of future counts to determine population trends. The census has also provided information on their distribution of crocodiles in the Kavango and Caprivi regions. And third, it has resulted in the first population estimate for crocodiles in the north-east wetlands of Namibia.
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Crocodile Survey in NE Namibia_2004.pdf | 404.87 KB |
Human and, increasingly, elephant pressure on Namibia's wetlands and riparian belts are a major cause of conservation concern. Many wetland birds are listed in Namibia's Red Data Book (Simmons & Brown in prep) because of population declines caused by the degradation and destruction of wetland habitats, and because of high levels of disturbance. Good information on the status of major wetlands and their avifauna is important for their conservation management. Birds provide one of the best indicators of wetland health.
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Kwandu wetland and floodplain Bird counts Aug 2004.pdf | 349.12 KB |
Namibia is one of few African countries that support six species of large carnivore. Lions, leopards, cheetahs, spotted hyaenas, brown hyaenas and wild dogs occur primarily in the northern and western sections of Namibia. With the possible exception of lions and leopards we have a poor understanding of the exact distribution and density of these species, although available information suggests that the populations are stable. The Namibia Large Carnivore Atlas was launched to involve the tourism industry and the Namibian public in collecting baseline data on the six large…
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Namibia Large Carnivore Atlas_July 2004.pdf | 770.46 KB |
Namibia is one of few African countries that support six species of large carnivore. Lions, leopards, cheetahs, spotted hyaenas, brown hyaenas and wild dogs occur primarily in the northern and western sections of Namibia. With the possible exception of lions and leopards we have a poor understanding of the exact distribution and density of these species, although available information suggests that the populations are stable. The Namibia Large Carnivore Atlas was launched to involve the tourism industry and the Namibian public in collecting baseline data on the six large…
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Namibia Large Carnivore Atlas_12_2003.pdf | 1.29 MB |
Summary of game count in north west in 2004: route statistics, animals seen, population estimates, trends.
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NW game count poster 2004.pdf | 483.95 KB |
Namibia is one of few African countries that support six species of large carnivore. Lions, leopards, cheetahs, spotted hyaenas, brown hyaenas and wild dogs occur primarily in the northern and western sections of Namibia. With the possible exception of lions and leopards we have a poor understanding of the exact distribution and density of these species, although available information suggests that the populations are stable.
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2004 Game Count in Gondwana Canon Park.pdf | 1.11 MB |
An aerial wildlife survey of the Nyae Nyae Conservancy in Namibia was conducted between 27 August and 5 September 2004. Using stratified systematic transect sampling techniques the 8,900km2 area was samfled at an average intensity of 33 %, during 54 hours of flying. The survey produced population estimates with relatively narrow confidence intervals for some of the abundant species, like kudu, gemsbok and ostrich. Wildlife numbers, as a whole, appeared to have increased when compared with the previous survey in 1998. An abbreviated summary of the numbers of wildlife is listed…
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Aerial survey of wildlife in the Nyae Nyae Conservancy_Namibia_September 2004.pdf | 3.33 MB |
The conflict between lions and pastoralists bordering Etosha National Park is a well known and documented problem. Every year lions move beyond the borders of Etosha National Park (Etosha) and prey on domestic livestock. In protection of their livestock, pastoralists shoot, trap, or poison lions. Data on these lion mortalities have been collected since 1982. Many individuals, including staff of the Ministry of Environment and Tourism, and visiting researchers, have collected these data.
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North_West_Game_Counts_June_2003.pdf | 570.33 KB |
Summary of game count in north west in 2002: route statistics, animals seen, population estimates, trends.
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NW game count poster 2002.pdf | 274.29 KB |
Poster summarising procedure, logistics and transects of Bwabwata National Park wet season game count.
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Poster_WCWS_count_Methodology_2003.ppt | 2.31 MB |
Road counts methodology poster.
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Poster_Road_counts_Methodology.jpg | 1.31 MB |
A vehicle-based road count method is used. This method works well for common plains game but will not give good results for all species; especially smaller secretive animals, nocturnal animals, and animals in mountainous areas. Other monitoring methods (e.g. aerial census, foot patrols, specialist species monitoring) and local knowledge are also important. This means that the road counts will provide part of the information rather than replace these other methods - i.e. the methods all work together each providing a piece of the 'pie'.
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2003 Game Count in Gondwana Canon Park_Methodology.pdf | 2.17 MB |
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Mahango bird count January 2002.pdf | 353.37 KB |
Aerial surveys have been conducted in Etosha National Park since 1968. These counts were strictly not comparable as they were undertaken at irregular intervals with different coverage, The first comprehensive sample count was done 1995, Since then sample counts were completed in 1998 and 2002. The 2002 survey is therefore the fourth complete sample count of Etosha. The objectives of the 2002 survey were as follows: 1. To provide comparable estimates and trend data for the most important species surveyed in support of speies management plan. 2.
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Introduction ENP Survey Report 2002.pdf | 233.02 KB |
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Etosha NP_Aerial census 2002.pdf | 694.07 KB |
Aerial surveys have been conducted in Etosha National Park since 1968. These counts were strictly not comparable as they were undertaken at irregular intervals with different coverage, The first comprehensive sample count was done 1995, Since then sample counts were completed in 1998 and 2002. The 2002 survey is therefore the fourth complete sample count of Etosha. The objectives of the 2002 survey were as follows: 1. To provide comparable estimates and trend data for the most important species surveyed in support of speies management plan. 2.
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Etosha NP_Aerial census 2002 intro.pdf | 233.02 KB |
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Annual game census for Nyae_Nyae_2002.PDF | 650.56 KB |
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Namibia wetland bird counts_ January_April_July 2000.pdf | 430.91 KB |
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Mahango wetland bird count_January 2001.pdf | 292.11 KB |
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A review of waterbird counts in botswana_2001.pdf | 38.83 MB |
Evidence of a decline in the range of elephants is provided by the survey carried out by Viljoen in 1982. The map in fig. 31 is somewhat misleading as all survey blocks in which elephants were seen are shaded even though elephants were unlikely to have been spread throughout the blocks. However, the occurrence of carcasses (cross-hatched areas) in areas where elephants are no longer found indicates a decrease in the range. Since the 1980s, the elephant counts have shown a consistent increase in the population (Fig. 32).
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Wildlife monitoring in north_western Namibia_2001.PDF | 588.23 KB |
The study sites are covered systematically, by tracking their spoor and setting out bait, to capture and mark all individual leopards and lions. Study animals are immobilised following standard procedures described by our earlier studies and conform to international veterinary standards. All leopards and 80% of lions are radio collared and lions are marked with permanent hot brands. The age of lions and leopards are determined from tooth wear. Radio-collared animals are located with the use of a fixed-wing aircraft.
Our present research is focussed on lions and leopards in three study sites. The Khorixas study site (10826 km2) is located in the northern Namib desert, previously known as Damaraland, and consists of an extremely arid habitat (annual rainfall 0-100mm) that stretches into the Skeleton Coast Park. This study is focussing on desert-adapted lions that frequent the Skeleton Coast Park, Torra Conservancy and the Palmwag tourism concession.
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July wetland bird count_Mahango Game Park.pdf | 400.34 KB |
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.
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Etosha NP_Aerial census 2000.pdf | 548.06 KB |
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Conservation of lions and other large carnivores in the Kunene Region_May 2000.pdf | 15.24 MB |