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 Organization: Elephants Without Borders
Date: May, 2005
Participants: Mike Chase
Location: South East Angola
Activities: Elephant survey. Angola is large and potentially rich country on the west (Atlantic) coast of Southern Africa. Now recovering from several decades of civil war much of the infrastructure was destroyed in the process. Most of the animals in this area bordering Zambia to the east and Namibia to the south were either shot or driven out by the increasing danger. Although the area is lush and affords plenty of water and vegitation animals have been slow to reoccupy their former habitat... partially because of the presence of land mines planted during the conflict.
Our survey operations were based at Katima Mulilo in the Caprivi strip (Namibia) because landing in Angola was prohibited and fuel non-existent. This resulted in a fairly long ferry time (about one hour each way) to the survey area. Once there was a notable increase of animals along the southern boundary from prior surveys. This was a good sign that the animals are comfortable returning to this area now that hostilities have ceased. Most of the people have fled east and occupy land just over the Zambia border on the Kwando River. Over time this area could provide a valuable sanctuary for elephants being forced out of adjacent areas by increasing human habitation.
To gain a better understanding of the work that Mike and his team are doing read this article in the June, 2008 edition of AFRICA Geographic magazine: Click Here to View Article
 Organization: Tau Consultants - Lion Camp
Date: May, 2005
Participants: Hanlie and Christiaan Winterbach
Location: Xudum, Okavango Delta, Botswana
Activities: Lion tracking. We conducted routine flights to locate collared lions that do not have satellite transmission capabilities. By locating these animals with HF only transmitters the research team can continue the tracking on the ground in order to conduct field observations. This is especially important during the flooding season in the Okavango Delta area where land travel is severly curtailed.
 Organization: Brown Hyeana Research
Date: June, 2005
Participants: Glyn Maude
Location: Makgadikgadi Pan, Botswana
Activities: Brown Hyeana tracking. A continuing effort to locate these elusive nocturnal scavengers with very large home ranges to conduct field observations. On this trip we were able to identify probable locations for adults and also visit a den site and observe a juvenile.
 Organization: Tau Consultants - Lion Camp
Date: June, 2005
Participants: Hanlie and Christiaan Winterbach
Location: Xudum, Okavango Delta, Botswana
Activities: General game survey. The research team conducts an annual survey to match the movement of study prides with the available game in the area. Game counts can be done using several techniques including road counts (drive a predefined course and count prey animals along the way), strip counts (cover area on ground and count prey animals by foot prints), or aerial counts (which are the most comprehensive and accurate).
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