Search results

Namibian Wildlife Surveys archive

This archive of reports of wildlife surveys in Namibia aims to:

  • provide easy public access to published information and statistics
  • enable easy stakeholder access to recent and historical data on wildlife populations
  • provide a comprehensive archive of wildlife survey reports in Namibia

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.

Explore your search results using the filter checkboxes, or amend your search or start a new search.

Displaying results 1 - 26 of 26
Kolberg H 2011. Trends in Namibian Waterbird Populations 3: Cormorants and Darter . Lanioturdus 44 (1) 16-18

The third article in the series on trends in Namibian waterbird populations summarises count data for cormorants and darter for the period 1977 to December 2008. For each species the Red Data Book (RDB) status, both global and Namibian, is given, the population trend as per Wetlands International, the number of times the species was counted, the number of times it has passed the 1% population criterion, the maximum count and the sites where it has passed the 1% population criterion.

Kolberg H 2011. Wetland Bird Counts in Namibia 4: Coastal Wetlands . Lanioturdus 44 (1) 9-31

This is the last article in a series describing the results of regular wetland bird counts in Namibia. This paper looks at eight coastal sites, including two of Namibia's four Ramsar sites i.e. Sandwich Harbour and Walvis Bay. Unfortunately data for Namibia's other coastal Ramsar site, the Orange River Mouth, is incomplete and hence it has not been included in this analysis. (Larger scale replications of the graphs in this article are attached to the end of this edition).

Kolberg H 2011. Trends in Namibian Waterbird Populations 4: Herons and Egrets Part 1 . Lanioturdus 44 (2) 12-15

This article continues the series on trends in Namibian waterbird populations and summarises count data for herons and egrets for the period 1977 to December 2008. For each species the Red Data Book (RDB) status, both global and Namibian, is given, the population trend as per Wetlands International, the number of times the species was counted, the number of times it has passed the 1% population criterion, the maximum count and the sites where it has passed the 1% population criterion.

Kolberg H 2011. Summary of the 2011 Summer Wetland Bird Counts . Lanioturdus 44 (3) 17-18

Namibia was blessed with extraordinary rains in most parts of the country early in 2011 and this is evident in the results of the summer wetland bird counts. Access to many of the count sites was difficult due to the wet conditions. In fact, the count at Lake Oponono had to be abandoned because of the muddy conditions. Rain interrupted many counts and even at Sandwich Harbour the counters had to endure about two hours of pouring rain before continuing with the count. Oddly enough, Tsutsab Vlei, near Tsintsabis in northern Namibia, was bone dry when the counts were done.

Kolberg H 2011. Trends in Namibian Waterbird Populations 4: Herons and Egrets Part 2 . Lanioturdus 44 (3) 10-15

This article continues the series on trends in Namibian waterbird populations and summarises count data for herons and egrets for the period 1977 to December 2008. For each species the Red Data Book (RDB) status, both global and Namibian, is given, the population trend as per Wetlands International, the number of times the species was counted, the number of times it has passed the 1% population criterion, the maximum count and the sites where it has passed the 1% population criterion.

Kolberg H 2011. Trends in Namibian Waterbird Populations 5: Storks and Ibises . Lanioturdus 44 (4) 13-17

The fifth article in the series on trends in Namibian waterbird populations summarises count data for storks and ibises for the period 1977 to December 2008. For each species the Red Data Book (RDB) status, both global and Namibian, is given, the population trend as per Wetlands International, the number of times the species was counted, the number of times it has passed the 1% population criterion, the maximum count and the sites where it has passed the 1% population criterion.

Craig GC 2011. Countrywide survey of elephants in Namibia - draft report.

The objective of this survey was to obtain a national estimate for elephants in Namibia. Fieldwork took place between 29 July and 11 August 2011 (Etosha and Tsumkwe), 6 to 10 September 2011 (Caprivi) and 19 to 25 November 2011 (Northwest Namibia). Areas covered are shown in Figs 1-3. The survey was a sample count at a variety of sampling intensities, depending on assumed elephant densities, in order to obtain a reasonably precise estimate with minimal effort. NW Namibia was a block-sample count flown by helicopter (with some areas of known high occupancy being total-counted).

Stein A, Andreas A, Aschenborn O 2011. Namibian national leopard survey - 2011.

Leopards are the most widely-distributed wild cat on earth. They are found throughout most of sub-Saharan Africa and in smaller populations within the Middle East, southwest Asia, southeast Asia and north to the Amur peninsula of the Russian Far-East. Throughout this distribution, leopards have persisted in hostile areas outside of protected areas due to their secretive nature and adaptable ability to live in a variety of habitats including sub-urban environments.

Attachment Size
Namibian National Leopard Survey_2011.pdf 565.33 KB
Gondwana Collection Namibia 2011. Gondwana Canon Park game count 2011.

Numbers of some species were up in 2011 due to the effect of good rains. This also caused a decrease in Mountain Zebra numbers as they moved westwards out of the park.

Attachment Size
Gondwana Canon Park game count 2011.pdf 955.49 KB
Gondwana Collection Namibia 2011. Gondwana Kalahari Park game count 2011.
Attachment Size
Gondwana Kalahari Park game count 2011.pdf 570.52 KB
2011. NamibRand Nature Reserve species checklist - Reptiles (50 species: 21 June 2011).
Attachment Size
NRNR species list reptiles.pdf 48.77 KB
Brown CJ, Stander P, Mayes S, Conradie L, Haredoeb P, Singwangwa M, Cilliers W 2004. Status of Wattled Cranes on the floodplains of north-east Namibia: Results from an aerial survey during August 2004 .

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.

Attachment Size
Wattled Crane Survey_2004.pdf 1.02 MB
Brown CJ, Stander P, Meyer-Rust R, Mayes S 2004. Results of a Crocodile Crocodylus niloticus survey in the river systems of north-east Namibia during August 2004 .

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.

Attachment Size
Crocodile Survey in NE Namibia_2004.pdf 404.87 KB
Brown CJ, Meyer-Rust R 2004. Winter counts of wetland and floodplain birds in the Kwando River and floodplain system, Caprivi .

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.

Hanssen L, Stander P 2004. Namibia Large Carnivore Atlas, July 2004 .

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…

Hanssen L, Stander P 2004. Namibia Large Carnivore Atlas, December 2003 .

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…

Namibian Association of CBNRM Support Organisations (NACSO) 2004. Game counts in north-west Namibia, June 2004 .

Summary of game count in north west in 2004: route statistics, animals seen, population estimates, trends.

Attachment Size
NW game count poster 2004.pdf 483.95 KB
Hanssen L, Stander P 2004. Namibia Large Carnivore Atlas .

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.

Gondwana Collection Namibia 2004. 2004 Game count in Gondwana Canon Park .
Stander P 2004. Aerial survey of wildlife in the Nyae Nyae Conservancy, Namibia - September 2004.

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…

Stander P 2004. An analyses of the spatial, temporal, and demographic patterns of lions destroyed along the borders of Etosha National Park over a 20-year period. 1982 to 2001.

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.

Rodwell TC, Tagg J, Grobler M 1995. Wildlife resources in the Caprivi, Namibia. The Results of an Aerial Census in 1994 and Comparisons with Past Surveys .

Protected and proclaimed areas in the Caprivi, Namibia, hold most of the economically valuable wildlife species in that region. This wildlife is presently being viewed as a potential resource base to support the many community-based conservation and development programmes in the Caprivi.

Attachment Size
Research Discussion Paper 9_1995.pdf 204.4 KB
Robertson A, Simmons RE, Jarvis AM, Brown CJ 1995. Can Bird Atlas data be used to estimate population size? A case study using Namibian endemics . Biological Conservation 71 87 - 95

An assessment of population size is a fundamental stage in the conservation of any species. The recent availability of data from the Southern African Bird Atlas Project (SABAP) provides a tool to investigate the status and distribution of approximately 900 bird species covered by this work. Here, we assess whether or not reporting rate can be used to establish absolute abundance and thereby produce estimates of population size.

Erb KP 1995. The Elesmap census in Etosha National Park July/August 1995  .

Etosha National Park, hereafter referred to as Etosha, was counted as part of the first co-ordinated regional Elesmap census from 15 July to 3 August 1995. The aim of this report is to present the results of the elephant count, data for the other species will be presented separately. Etosha is a 23 000 km² conservation area surrounding a large saline pan. The vegetation is mainly open Mopane and Acacia savanna and short grass plains. Topography is mainly very flat, with only a few hills in the west. For a detailed description see inter alia le Roux et al.(1988).

Erb KP 1995. The Elesmap census in Etosha National Park July/August 1995.

Etosha National Park, hereafter referred to as Etosha, was counted as part of the first co-ordinated regional Elesmap census from 15 July to 3 August 1995. The aim of this report is to present the results of the elephant count, data for the other species will be presented separately. Etosha is a 23 000 km² conservation area surrounding a large saline pan. The vegetation is mainly open Mopane and Acacia savanna and short grass plains. Topography is mainly very flat, with only a few hills in the west. For a detailed description see inter alia le Roux et al.(1988).

Attachment Size
Etosha NP_Elephant_Jan 1996.pdf 213.38 KB
Said MY, Chunge RN, Craig GC, Thouless CR, Barnes RFW, Dublin HT 1995. African elephant database.
Attachment Size
African elephant database_1995.pdf 13.43 MB

Not found what you are looking for? Amend your search...