OKATUMBA WILDLIFE RESEARCH

A fascinating adventure activity at Okomitundu.

OKATUMBA WILDLIFE RESEARCH, a small privately run research station, has been based at the guest farm Okomitundu since June 2005. The move here was preceded by seven years of research work in the area of the Seeis Conservancy, east of the International Airport. In addition to wild game management in general, the research focuses specifically on the study of large predators: cheetah, leopard and brown hyena. Further information on the OKATUMBA WILDLIFE RESEARCH is available at www.okatumba.de

Here is an insight into the practical work involved in this project:

“The first few weeks on the guest farm Okomitundu were spent getting to know the new study area. In addition to mapping work, we located and followed the tracks of cheetah, leopard and hyena, identifying the cheetah’s so-called “play trees” and suitable locations for box traps. During the course of July, six box traps were placed in the field and set. After a number of guinea fowl, porcupine, warthogs, desert lynx and aardvark had been caught, we had the first cheetah in the trap on August 7th! The tracks indicated that the group consisted of three or four cheetahs. So the captured animal was moved to a cage, provided with water and shade and left for one night by the play tree. Three traps were set and the next morning three more cheetahs had been captured – a great success! All four animals were anaesthetized, given ear-tags and transponders, examined, tested and set free. Unfortunately this sibling group could not be radio-tagged as they were too young for a collar, even though they were independent of the mother. Two days later we had more luck with cheetahs at Okomitundu: a huge animal had landed in the trap and once again the tracks of two other animals were identified. Once again the traps were set and we were happy to find our new study specimens: three fully grown cheetahs, around four years old and weighing 56, 57 and 60 kilograms respectively. With body lengths of 221, 222 and 225 centimetres they are among the largest cheetahs ever caught.”

By means of tracking, radio telemetry and occasional field observations, important insights are gained on the behaviour ecology of the predators. Since 1998, OKATUMBA WILDLIFE RESEARCH has sought to harmonise the interests of farmers with the needs of wild game. Solutions to existing conflicts between mankind and animals cannot be imposed from the outside, however: it is important to approach these conflicts in collaboration with the farmers.