Source: Gondwana Collection Namibia FB Page
72-hour game count in Khaudum
Photo Credit: Dirk Heinrich
Dirk Heinrich
By midday on Saturday, 12 October 2019, a total of 71 people in their SUVs full of camping gear had gathered at eleven waterholes in Khaudum National Park. The 72-hour game count started at 12 o’clock sharp and ended at the same time on Tuesday.
The participants had arrived in more than thirty vehicles at Sikaretti, the park's newly-built entrance gate, the previous afternoon and spent the night either on the sports field or in the vacant staff quarters. In the evening everyone joined the braai (barbecue) and nature conservation officials briefed the volunteers on the upcoming wildlife count and possible dangers, as well as the significance of counting wildlife.
The 71 volunteers – some of them from Brazil, Germany and South Africa, but the majority from Namibia – not only had to bring their camping gear but also their own food and beverages as well as fuel. Khaudum National Park is only accessible by 4x4 and the going on tracks through soft sand is slow.
The various groups made themselves comfortable at a respectful distance from the waterholes, mostly at the existing raised hides. They made sure that they had sufficient shade and would not be surprised by wild animals, especially predators, that elephants could not wander about between the vehicles and the camp and that the area could be watched all around. One of the groups found a young rock python under a metal sheet in the spot where they wanted to pitch their tents.
Already during the first night many of the groups observed various animals. They counted lions, leopards, wild dogs, spotted hyenas, a honey badger and large numbers of elephants. The members of one group had to stay put in their tents and couldn’t even venture out to use the toilet because lions were roaming around the camp. Visitors to the park are usually not allowed to camp at the waterholes. An exception was made for the game count volunteers and this special privilege resulted in unforgettable experiences.
In the moonlight, some of those on night watch duty saw an oryx antelope charge four wild dogs at one of the waterholes; others watched nine spotted hyenas attempting to kill an elephant calf. At yet another waterhole ten wild dogs took down a young roan antelope and the whole pack of 17 dogs came to feed on the prey. Other volunteers witnessed an elephant calf falling into a waterhole and how it was eventually saved by its mother. Within the first 24 hours of their arrival at Khaudum, one group counted more than 250 elephants.
Especially with regard to counting elephants, the participants had been asked to record the number of adult bulls and cows, of juveniles and young animals in the herd. They also took special note of individuals with conspicuous features, such as an elephant with a crippled left hind leg that stood out from the body at an odd angle and made walking difficult, or a fully grown cow with one normal tusk and an unusually thin one pointing downward. Some antelopes were recognised because of broken horns.
On Tuesday evening most of the participants gathered at the Khaudum campsite where the forms of the count were collected and the most exciting experiences were shared. The park's chief conservation officer will evaluate the count and announce the results.
Khaudum is currently understaffed and on top of that the drought puts enormous pressure on the park management and the animals. The handful of rangers have to battle with a shortage of fuel for the vehicles and the aggregates for pumping water, while the animals don’t have sufficient pasture and water. The Ministry of Environment and Tourism lacks the necessary financial resources. Fortunately some sponsors keep the park administration going. Together with their considerable piles of luggage the volunteers brought some fuel to pump water for the animals at night. During the day the pumps are solar-powered.
Nevertheless the participants unanimously agreed to come back anytime, when the next 72-hour game count at the waterholes of Khaudum National Park is due. The game count was organized by Leon Boye, who conducted the first census with volunteers last year. Then, only three waterholes could be manned for counting. Plans are to arrange counts with the help of volunteers every year from now on.
72-hour game count in Khaudum
Photo Credit: Dirk Heinrich
Dirk Heinrich
By midday on Saturday, 12 October 2019, a total of 71 people in their SUVs full of camping gear had gathered at eleven waterholes in Khaudum National Park. The 72-hour game count started at 12 o’clock sharp and ended at the same time on Tuesday.
The participants had arrived in more than thirty vehicles at Sikaretti, the park's newly-built entrance gate, the previous afternoon and spent the night either on the sports field or in the vacant staff quarters. In the evening everyone joined the braai (barbecue) and nature conservation officials briefed the volunteers on the upcoming wildlife count and possible dangers, as well as the significance of counting wildlife.
The 71 volunteers – some of them from Brazil, Germany and South Africa, but the majority from Namibia – not only had to bring their camping gear but also their own food and beverages as well as fuel. Khaudum National Park is only accessible by 4x4 and the going on tracks through soft sand is slow.
The various groups made themselves comfortable at a respectful distance from the waterholes, mostly at the existing raised hides. They made sure that they had sufficient shade and would not be surprised by wild animals, especially predators, that elephants could not wander about between the vehicles and the camp and that the area could be watched all around. One of the groups found a young rock python under a metal sheet in the spot where they wanted to pitch their tents.
Already during the first night many of the groups observed various animals. They counted lions, leopards, wild dogs, spotted hyenas, a honey badger and large numbers of elephants. The members of one group had to stay put in their tents and couldn’t even venture out to use the toilet because lions were roaming around the camp. Visitors to the park are usually not allowed to camp at the waterholes. An exception was made for the game count volunteers and this special privilege resulted in unforgettable experiences.
In the moonlight, some of those on night watch duty saw an oryx antelope charge four wild dogs at one of the waterholes; others watched nine spotted hyenas attempting to kill an elephant calf. At yet another waterhole ten wild dogs took down a young roan antelope and the whole pack of 17 dogs came to feed on the prey. Other volunteers witnessed an elephant calf falling into a waterhole and how it was eventually saved by its mother. Within the first 24 hours of their arrival at Khaudum, one group counted more than 250 elephants.
Especially with regard to counting elephants, the participants had been asked to record the number of adult bulls and cows, of juveniles and young animals in the herd. They also took special note of individuals with conspicuous features, such as an elephant with a crippled left hind leg that stood out from the body at an odd angle and made walking difficult, or a fully grown cow with one normal tusk and an unusually thin one pointing downward. Some antelopes were recognised because of broken horns.
On Tuesday evening most of the participants gathered at the Khaudum campsite where the forms of the count were collected and the most exciting experiences were shared. The park's chief conservation officer will evaluate the count and announce the results.
Khaudum is currently understaffed and on top of that the drought puts enormous pressure on the park management and the animals. The handful of rangers have to battle with a shortage of fuel for the vehicles and the aggregates for pumping water, while the animals don’t have sufficient pasture and water. The Ministry of Environment and Tourism lacks the necessary financial resources. Fortunately some sponsors keep the park administration going. Together with their considerable piles of luggage the volunteers brought some fuel to pump water for the animals at night. During the day the pumps are solar-powered.
Nevertheless the participants unanimously agreed to come back anytime, when the next 72-hour game count at the waterholes of Khaudum National Park is due. The game count was organized by Leon Boye, who conducted the first census with volunteers last year. Then, only three waterholes could be manned for counting. Plans are to arrange counts with the help of volunteers every year from now on.
