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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.

Summary of game count in north west in 2006: route statistics, animals seen, population estimates, trends.

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.

Summary of game count in north west in 2005: route statistics, animals seen, population estimates, trends.

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.

Aerial census of the Etosha national Park during September 1973 with aid of a helicopter

Since completion of the fence on the Etosha's northern border the whole game park is now fenced in, causing management problems and more intensive research, also because the game park is an ecological unit no longer. Elephants breaking through the fence, doing damage on neighbouring farms and lions going through the breaks, still pose a problem in spite of the fact that a large part of the fence was re-enforced by adding three wires and that nature conservators spent more time keeping elephants away from the farms. Seven culprits had to be shot.