Aerial survey of northern Botswana -Results

Botswana wildlife survey
January 2011. Elephants Without Borders (EWB), with the support of the Dept. of Wildlife & National Parks and the San Diego Zoo, have recently completed flying a fixed wing aerial survey, counting elephants and wildlife species, over northern Botswana.

Wildlife counted
Wildlife species counted included large and small herbivores, such as: Elephants, roan, sable, zebra, giraffe, eland, kudu, impala, lechwe, springbok, buffalo, wildebeest, hartebeest, tsessebe, waterbuck, warthog, and hippos; predators were also noted when seen. Other observations recorded included: types of elephant herds (bull or family groups), elephant carcasses, elephant bones and if possible whether tusks were intact or missing. EWB also recorded observations of selected large birds and nesting sites. The birds counted included: critically endangered wattled crane, lappet-faced vultures, ground hornbill, ostrich, saddle-bill storks, fish eagles, and Bateleur eagles.

Giraffe and elephants bones from the air.

Due to the growing concern about the impact elephants and fire are having on large trees in Botswana and considering Baobabs are iconic trees, the team also counted Baobab trees and took note of their, size and recorded the extent of damage to each tree seen. Additional notes were taken on environmental conditions, such as the extent of bush fires and the structural integrity of Botswana's veterinary fence lines and whether livestock or wildlife had crossed them.

The information on elephant and wildlife numbers, distribution, and demographic characteristics from this study will be incorporated into population models to better understand a variety of research and management questions relating to wildlife ecology and conservation management in Botswana. Other management issues where this study may contribute important information include: Illegal hunting, veterinary control measures, hunting quotas and habitat monitoring. The results of this project may also help promote conservation efforts that seek to ultimately enhance economic opportunities for rural communities in the region.

43,000 kilometres flown
The four member survey team flew the survey over a three month period. Approximately 250 hours were spent in small single-engine plane flying the survey. The distance covered by the team was approximately 43,000 kilometres, most of which was spent flying along straight transect lines over Botswana's varied terrain. The distance covered by the survey team, is longer than the circumference of the Earth at the Equator!

The study area essentially encompassed the entire elephant range in northern Botswana of approximately 115,800 km2. The survey boundaries extended across the southern extent of the Okavango Delta following the Southern Buffalo Fence, eastward to the Boteti River, while the eastern boundary extended to the Zimbabwe border, then north to Kasane. The northern boundary followed along the Chobe, Linyanti and Kwando Rivers. Over high density wildlife areas, such the Okavango Delta, the sampling coverage was about 22%, the highest survey coverage ever flown over such a vast area of northern Botswana, making this Botswana's first aerial survey conducted with such a high sampling intensity.

Hippos in the Okavango

Roan antelope

EWB plans to publicize the results of this important aerial survey at an official launch of the report early next year. In addition several presentations on the project results will be presented to key stakeholders. The primary objectives of these presentations and meetings will be to share information obtained from this study and from the on-going research activities of EWB. EWB hopes the results of this collaborative survey with the DWNP will have fundamental conservation management implications for land-use planning and conservation efforts in Botswana.

Elephants Without Borders (EWB) is a non-profit charitable organization based in Kazangula. EWB is dedicated to conserving wildlife and natural resources and is the country's leading regional cross-border research project focused on elephant conservation and management. Their projects' work has contributed to many scientific publications, newspaper and magazine articles and is featured in a film by Afriscreen Films for the BBC Natural History Unit and Animal Planet. To learn more about Elephants Without Borders activities, visit their website: www.elephantswithoutborders.org

The project was led by EWB's founder, and San Diego Zoo's Institute for Conservation Research scientist Dr. Mike Chase, coordinated by EWB's program manger, Kelly Landen and piloted by Mr. Mike Holding from Afriscreen Films.