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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In 2012, a simplified territory mapping method was employed to study the distribution and numbers of all birds breeding in the Ogongo Game Park (OGP). OGP is situated approximately 50 km north-west of Oshakati, in the Outapi district, Omusati region, North-Central Namibia. The area of the park is approximately 1000 ha. The vegetation of OGP comprises mainly mopane savanna Colophospermum-Acacia nilotica. In total, 142 bird species were recorded: 101 breeding residents, 19 regular visitors, 10 irregular visitors, 3 vagrants, 10 Palaearctic migrants.
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Status_distribution and numbers of birds in the Ogongo Game Park.pdf | 1.28 MB |
Following several years of preparation, the KAZA Elephant Survey (2022) commenced on 22 August 2022 and ran until 28 October 2022. The primary objective of the survey was to obtain a relatively precise and accurate estimate of the number of African savanna elephants (hereafter elephants) in the Kavango Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area (KAZA TFCA), by synchronising data collection, particularly in areas of transboundary elephant movement.
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KAZA Elephant Survey 2022_Volume I_Results and Technical Report.pdf | 17.86 MB |
KAZA Elephant Survey 2022_Fact Sheet.pdf | 5.07 MB |
KAZA Elephant Survey 2022_Press Release.pdf | 94.71 KB |
KAZA Elephant Survey 2022_Communique.pdf | 138.44 KB |
The first flight to begin an elephant survey covering parts of Angola, Botswana, Namibia,Zambia and Zimbabwe took off from a dirt strip in Zimbabwe on 22 August 2022. The survey area, known as the Kavango-Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area (KAZA TFCA), hosts over half of Africa's savanna elephants, which underlines the importance of the survey.
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The Kavango_Zambezi transfrontier elephant survey.pdf | 1.75 MB |
The lions of Namibia's Kunene Region are sought after by tourists, but they are a local threat to livestock farming, and are still largely unresearched in terms of their ecology and ranging behaviour. Though lions in Kunene have been monitored for more than twenty years, it may come as a surprise that the population has not been systematically counted throughout its range - until now. It is less surprising when one realises that the lion range in Kunene covers more than 51,000 km² of mountainous desert landscape.
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First_ever systematic lion population survey in northwest Namibia.pdf | 1.02 MB |
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. The 2023 data suggest: populations for 4 of the main game species (Roan, Eland, Steenbok and Duiker) showed positive or stable trends. There were however sharp drops in the numbers of gemsbok and kudu seen. Estimates suggest that these populations are still well balanced in number.
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Kavango poster 2023 final.pdf | 659.62 KB |
Estimates were calculated using DISTANCE which takes account in drop-off in detectability of animals with distance from the transect line. Where there are no values too few observations were recorded to allow for meaningful estimates to be derived. Attempts should be made to fill these gaps. Kwandu conservancy differs from the other 3 more strictly protected areas in that it contains a significant human presence. It is not expected to have the same species densities, but it is an important wildlife corridor between the national parks.
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Kaza_2023 final.pdf | 383.91 KB |
Game counts in Luengue-Luiana N.P. (proclaimed in 2011) were initiated in 2018. Three road section transect routes were initially established. A further two were added in 2021. The transects are limited to the extreme south-eastern portion of the park and represent an area of approximately 2,030 km². The vegetation of the park is dominated by broad-leafed savannah with several riparian networks crossing the park. In total 28 species have been recorded. For large herd species like buffalo, or floodplain species like red lechwe, extrapolation is not appropriate.
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Luengue_Luiana poster 2023 final.pdf | 620.89 KB |
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North Central Game Count 2023 final.pdf | 774.01 KB |
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North West Game Count_Hobatere 2023.pdf | 378.34 KB |
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North West Game Count_North of Vet Fence 2023.pdf | 475.48 KB |
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North West Game Count_Palmwag and Etendeka 2023.pdf | 444.55 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 prolonged dry phase after 2013 resulted in a steady decline in populations of many game species. It is unclear how much illegal harvesting contributed to the drop in animal numbers.
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North West Game Count_Regional 2023.pdf | 625.48 KB |
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North West Game Count_South of Vet Fence 2023.pdf | 479.49 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 27 species including 7 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 2023 included wildebeest, elephant and kudu.
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Nyae Nyae transect count 2023 final.pdf | 661.02 KB |
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Nyae Nyae waterhole 2023 final.pdf | 517.38 KB |
Annual game counts have been undertaken in Sioma-Ngwezi National Park since 2017 using road-route sections covering the western boundary, the southern area, and central area of the park. The vegetation of the park is dominated by miombo broad-leafed savanna but with some marshland associated with the Kwando river in the west (Sinjembela road and Mufulani road A). In 2021 several new routes were driven, however data from all except Namulilo road were discarded as they overlapped existing routes. Only a portion of Mulamba road route was counted.
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Sioma_Ngwezi_poster 2023 final.pdf | 593.81 KB |
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Southern Conservancy Game Count 2023.pdf | 711.39 KB |
Waterhole counts were undertaken at selected sites in the escarpment zone of north-west Namibia. In 2018,18 waterholes in 7 conservancies were counted but from 2019 onwards, the number of waterholes was increased to more than 25 covering 11 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_2023.pdf | 539.37 KB |
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Zambezi Game Count_Bwabwata 2023 final.pdf | 633.4 KB |
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Zambezi Game Count_East 2023 final.pdf | 539.78 KB |
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Zambezi Game Count_River 2023 final.pdf | 374.13 KB |
2nd total aerial census of Etosha National Park using a helicopter and fixed wing aircraft.
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Etosha NP_Aerial census 1984.PDF | 1.13 MB |
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Etosha NP_Aerial census 1984 05 west.PDF | 543.08 KB |
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Etosha NP_Aerial census 1984 05 LA.PDF | 875.44 KB |
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Etosha NP_Aerial census 1983 LA.PDF | 855.99 KB |
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The ecology_behaviour and population dynamics of large predators at Etosha_Part 1 The lion.pdf | 39.23 MB |
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Department Agriculture and Nature Conservation 1984.pdf | 8.02 MB |
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Williams and Brown 1984 Preliminary report on Walvis Bay bird count.pdf | 1.23 MB |
Estimates of the numbers of each game species, a description of their status and maps of their distribution per district as reported to the Secretary to South West Africa by the District Office of the Magistrate.
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Distribution of game in South West Africa_Gobabis 1926.pdf | 14.08 MB |
Estimates of the numbers of each game species, a description of their status and maps of their distribution per district as reported to the Secretary to South West Africa by the District Office of the Magistrate.
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Distribution of game in South West Africa_Keetmanshoop_1926.pdf | 20.74 MB |
Distribution of game in South West Africa_Keetmanshoop_1926_Hartebeest.PDF | 96.15 KB |
Estimates of the numbers of each game species, a description of their status and maps of their distribution per district as reported to the Secretary to South West Africa by the District Office of the Magistrate.
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Distribution of game in South West Africa_Luderitz_1926.pdf | 18.66 MB |
Estimates of the numbers of each game species, a description of their status and maps of their distribution per district as reported to the Secretary to South West Africa by the District Office of the Magistrate.
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Distribution of game in South West Africa_Maltahoe 1926.pdf | 14.66 MB |
Distribution of game in South West Africa_Maltahohe_1926_Hartebeest.PDF | 103.45 KB |
Estimates of the numbers of each game species, a description of their status and maps of their distribution per district as reported to the Secretary to South West Africa by the District Office of the Magistrate.
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Distribution of game in South West Africa _Okahandja 1926.pdf | 16.32 MB |
Estimates of the numbers of each game species, a description of their status and maps of their distribution per district as reported to the Secretary to South West Africa by the District Office of the Magistrate.
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Distribution of game in South West Africa _Omaruru_1926.pdf | 17.29 MB |
Estimates of the numbers of each game species, a description of their status and maps of their distribution per district as reported to the Secretary to South West Africa by the District Office of the Magistrate.
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Distribution of game in South West Africa_Bethanie 1926.pdf | 9.24 MB |
Estimates of the numbers of each game species, a description of their status and maps of their distribution per district as reported to the Secretary to South West Africa by the District Office of the Magistrate.
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Distribution of game in South West Africa _Grootfontein_1926.pdf | 34.44 MB |
Distribution of game in South West Africa _Grootfontein_1926_Hartebeest.PDF | 89.28 KB |
Estimates of the numbers of each game species, a description of their status and maps of their distribution per district as reported to the Secretary to South West Africa by the District Office of the Magistrate.
Estimates of the numbers of each game species, a description of their status and maps of their distribution per district as reported to the Secretary to South West Africa by the District Office of the Magistrate.
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Distribution of game in South West Africa _Otjiwarongo_1926.pdf | 33.32 MB |
Estimates of the numbers of each game species, a description of their status and maps of their distribution per district as reported to the Secretary to South West Africa by the District Office of the Magistrate.
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Distribution of game in South West Africa _Gibeon_1926.pdf | 28.98 MB |
Estimates of the numbers of each game species, a description of their status and maps of their distribution per district as reported to the Secretary to South West Africa by the District Office of the Magistrate.
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Distribution of game in South West Africa _Outjo_1926.pdf | 24.57 MB |
Estimates of the numbers of each game species, a description of their status and maps of their distribution per district as reported to the Secretary to South West Africa by the District Office of the Magistrate.
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Distribution of game in South West Africa _Windhoek_1926.pdf | 14.61 MB |
Distribution of game in South West Africa _Windhoek_1926_Hartebeest.PDF | 141.95 KB |
Estimates of the numbers of each game species, a description of their status and maps of their distribution per district as reported to the Secretary to South West Africa by the District Office of the Magistrate.
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Distribution of game in South West Africa _Warmbad_1926.pdf | 12.39 MB |
Estimates of the numbers of each game species, a description of their status and maps of their distribution per district as reported to the Secretary to South West Africa by the District Office of the Magistrate.
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Distribution of game in South West Africa _Karibib_1926.pdf | 12.31 MB |
Estimates of the numbers of each game species as reported to the Secretary to South West Africa by the District Office of the Magistrate.
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Distribution of game Total Count_1926.pdf | 32.99 KB |
Estimates of the numbers of each game species, a description of their status and maps of their distribution per district as reported to the Secretary to South West Africa by the District Office of the Magistrate.
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1926_Distribution of game in South West Africa _Swakopmund.pdf | 2.47 MB |
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South West Africa_District Map_1926.pdf | 1.96 MB |
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Distribution of game in South West Africa_Namutoni 1926.pdf | 26.74 MB |