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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.

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Displaying results 1 - 40 of 40
Mendelsohn J, Haraes L 2018. Aerial census of Cape Cormorants and Cape Fur Seals at Baía dos Tigres, Angola. Namibian Journal of Environment (2) 1-6

A total of 250,786 Cape Cormorants, of which 16,038 were individuals on nests in 349 colonies, and 15,831 Cape Fur Seals were counted during a complete aerial photographic census of the island of Tigres and part of the adjacent coast in Angola in March 2017. Such a concentration of birds and seals and the large number of breeding Cape Cormorants highlights the need to protect Tigres and its rich surrounding waters. Keywords: aerial census, Arctocephalus pusillus pusillus, Baía dos Tigres, Cape cormorant, Cape fur seal, Phalacrocorax capensis.

Brown C 2018. Status of the Rock Pratincole in the Kapako area of the Okavango River, Kavango East, Namibia. Namibian Journal of Environment (2) 9-11

A boat survey conducted on 30 December 2017 along an 8.6 km stretch of the Okavango River revealed 45 adult Rock Pratincoles and 20 young birds. This brings the estimated number of Rock Pratincoles in the Okavango system in Namibia to about 361 birds, and for all river systems in Namibia to about 410 birds. Keywords: Glareola nuchalis, Namibia, Okavango river, Rock Pratincole, status.

Kolberg H 2018. Summary of the 2017 winter wetland bird counts in Namibia. Lanioturdus (51) 34-37
Namibian Association of CBNRM Support Organisations (NACSO) 2018. Game counts in Hardap Game Park, July 2018.
Namibian Association of CBNRM Support Organisations (NACSO) 2018. Game counts: Kavango East.
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Game Count Kavango East 2018.pdf 590.73 KB
Namibian Association of CBNRM Support Organisations (NACSO) 2018. Game counts in north-west Namibia: Regional Summary.
Namibian Association of CBNRM Support Organisations (NACSO) 2018. Game counts in north-west Namibia: Conservancies north of the veterinary fence, June 2018.

Summary of game counts in north-west Namibia: Conservancies north of the veterinary fence, June 2018.

Namibian Association of CBNRM Support Organisations (NACSO) 2018. Game counts in north-west Namibia: Conservancies north of the veterinary fence, June 2018.

Summary of game counts in north-west Namibia: Conservancies north of the veterinary fence, June 2018.

Namibian Association of CBNRM Support Organisations (NACSO) 2018. Game counts in north-west Namibia: Palmwag and Etendeka, June 2018.
Namibian Association of CBNRM Support Organisations (NACSO) 2018. Game counts in north-west Namibia: Hobatere concession, June 2018.
Namibian Association of CBNRM Support Organisations (NACSO) 2018. Game counts in north-central Namibia: Total Numbers of animals seen: last 5 years.

Summary of game counts in north-central Namibia: Total Numbers of animals seen: last 5 years.

Namibian Association of CBNRM Support Organisations (NACSO) 2018. Game counts in southern Namibia, June 2018.
Namibian Association of CBNRM Support Organisations (NACSO) 2018. North Central Game Count data 2018.
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North Central Game Count data 2018.xlsx 146.33 KB
Namibian Association of CBNRM Support Organisations (NACSO) 2018. South Game Count data 2018.
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South Game Count data 2018.xlsx 91.93 KB
Namibian Association of CBNRM Support Organisations (NACSO) 2018.  North West Game Count data 2018.
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North West Game Count data 2018.xlsx 434.86 KB
Gondwana Collection Namibia 2018. Gondwana Canyon Park Game Count 2018.
Gondwana Collection Namibia 2018. Gondwana Kalahari Park Game Count 2018.
Goelst C, Moeller M, Kilian W 2018. Etosha National Park Carnivore Monitoring Project Update, Unofficial Report Re: Lion GPS-Satellite Monitoring, 2018 Lion Population Call-Up Survey.

Carnivore populations face threats from increasing human populations and rapidly diminishing, suitable habitat. Large carnivores such as African lions (Panthera leo) commonly attack livestock on lands adjacent to protected areas. This can lead to human-wildlife conflict (HWC) events that result in retaliatory lion killings. Conflict is a primary driver of wild lion population declines which are estimated to have decreased by 43% in the last 20 years.

Goelst CE 2018. Assessing patterns of spatial occurrence and human-carnivore conflict for African lions (Panthera leo) in and around Etosha National Park, Namibia .

Carnivore populations face threats from increasing human populations and rapidly diminishing, suitable habitat. Large carnivores such as African lions (Panthera leo) commonly range outside of their protected areas and attack livestock on adjacent farmlands. This can lead to human-carnivore conflict (HCC) events often resulting in retaliatory lion killings. HCC retaliation by poisoning the offending animals is highly costly to lions due to the species’ group hunting and feeding habits.

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.

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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.

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Gondwana Canon Park game count 2011.pdf 955.49 KB
Gondwana Collection Namibia 2011. Gondwana Kalahari Park game count 2011.
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Gondwana Kalahari Park game count 2011.pdf 570.52 KB
2011. NamibRand Nature Reserve species checklist - Reptiles (50 species: 21 June 2011).
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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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