- Gondwana Desert Collection/ News



		News 2005 News 29.08.05

Game regains Namibia’s South - 29.08.05
Game numbers in the private nature reserve on the eastern fringe of the Fish River Canyon have recovered remarkably well during the past eight years. This is the positive outcome of the game count carried out last Saturday. According to projections the 1.120 km² reserve at present sustains about 4.500 Springbok, 620 Gemsbok, 560 Kudu and 420 Mountain Zebra. In 1997, shortly after establishing the park, game populations were estimated at only 500 Springbok, 40 Gemsbok, 30 Kudu and 20 Mountain Zebra.

The increase in numbers is great news, especially for southern Namibia where many game species – including Rhino, Elephant and Giraffe – were wiped out by man more than a hundred years ago. The park’s management intends to continue the game resettlement programme. Plans are to release another 12 Giraffe and 20 Hartebeest to expand the gene pool, and later on reintroduce Burchell’s Zebra, Blue Wildebeest and Eland to enhance diversity.

A game count is carried out every year in late August. Among the participants were shareholders and staff members of the park as well
as interested private individuals
and neighbours – including a high-ranking representative of neighbouring state-owned Ai-Ais Richtersveld Transfrontier Park.
The data collected during a count is needed for taking proper care of the

No mirage: Giraffe at the Fish River Canyon.
Photo: Michaela Kanzler

game. In order to prevent that animals perish in agony after poor rains or grazing areas suffer serious damage, great care is taken to ensure that the land’s viability is not fully exhausted.


		- For more see our Media Release.