Fieldwork: July / August 2023

Friday 1 September 2023

Floodplain Pride & Severe East-wind conditions

Severe weather conditions prevailed as strong east-winds up to 40 knots ripped through the Northern Namib. The Floodplain Pride was observed during the harsh conditions. They used thick vegetation, rock overhangs or caves for shelter against the sandstorms. Notwithstanding, they also used the harsh condition and poor visibility to approach and hunt unsuspecting prey. Observations of their hunting activities were, however, limited by the strong winds and poor visibility.

The two Floodplain lionesses and small cub searching for and hunting prey during the sandstorms.

Severe east-winds reaching speeds of up to 40 knots.

Severe east-winds reaching speeds of up to 40 knots

Xpl-114 “Charly”

The lioness continued to utilise the lower section of the Hoanib River where prey animals continued to frequent the river bed to feed on Faidherbia pods.

Xpl-114 “Charly” regularly hunted giraffes along the Hoanib riverbed.

Floodplain birds

Due to the extensive floods earlier in 2023, the Floodplain has come alive with the explosion of rodent and small bird populations utilising the vegetation and new growth following the floods. This has attracted numerous predator species, such as raptors, owls and small mammalian carnivores (viverrids and felids).

Raptors and owls attracted to the Hoanib Floodplain.

Visitors

The recognised environmental investigative reporter and photographer, Dirk Heinrich, visited the DLC in the Hoanib River and assisted with the monitoring activities and efforts to fit radio collars to brown hyaenas.

A fortuitous meeting occurred at Möwe Bay when a large delegation of the Namibian Parliament and the senior members of the Namibian Police Force and the Ministry of Environment, Forestry & Tourism of the Skeleton Coast National Park visited DLC at the Möwe Bay Research Cabin. The meeting was followed up with reports by NBC News (see LINK).

Photographer and journalist: Dirk Heinrich.

Allu Kasupi and Lion Rangers from the Sesfontein Conservancy on patrol.

Delegation of the Namibian Parliament at the Möwe Bay Research Cabin.

Brown hayena study

Attention was given to the ongoing research and monitoring of brown hyaenas. In collaboration with the Skeleton Coast Brown Hyaena Project new GPS radio collars were fitted to key individuals. The main goal was to replace damaged or worn collars of four female hyaenas from the Coastal, Floodplain and Amp’s Poort clans. Thus far a total of 13 nights have been invested. During five nights along the coast and on the Floodplain the success rate was high and four hyaenas were darted and fitted with new collars. In contrast, eight nights were spent at the Amp’s Poort area with no results.

Inside of the research vehicle during darting sessions with images of the target hyaenas.