Title:

Full moon waterhole counts in northern Kunene 2022

Publication Year:
2022
Abstract:

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. Waterhole counts are therefore best suited to species (like elephants) which make infrequent discrete trips to specific water points. Estimates of animals are calculated by correcting the numbers seen over the entire count period using the number of count days, and the drinking frequency of the species. They are therefore crude estimates and should be considered a guide to the relative abundance of animals in the area. Values are influenced by several assumptions including drinking frequencies and independence of sightings. Using assumed drinking frequencies of 2 days for black-faced impala and 1.8 days for elephants, we obtain the following average estimates (over the five years 2018- 2022): Black-face impala 784; Elephant 212.

Item Type:
Report
Language:
en
Files:
Attachment Size
Waterholes_NW_poster_2022_Final.pdf 468.62 KB