Initiated in 1975, the purpose of this study was to obtain basic ecological information
needed for the conservation, management and utilization of the fauna and flora of Kaokoland,
S.W.A. Accordingly the vegetation of the area was classified into veldtypes and the
status, distribution and movements of the bigger mammals were determined.
To assist in the description of veld types, quantitative classification of the vegetation was
based on the variable quadrant plqt method for trees and shrubs and the steppoint method
for herbs. Information thus gathered was used to determine species composition and to estimate
density per hectare, mean height, mean crown diameter, mean stem diameter, mean
number of stems and canopy cover for the different plant species.
In conjunction with bioclimatic and geographical divisions the above mentioned quantitative
information of the vegetation resulted in the description of homogeneous vegetation units.
In this way the vegetation was separated into fourteen veld types. The location, boundaries,
topography, geology, soil, treestratum, shrubstratum, herbstratum for each veldtype and the
major plant communities within each are described. In addition the vegetation of the
drainage lines and the plants associated with springs are described. A synopsis of previous
descriptions and classifications is also presented.
It was found that the vegetation of Kaokoland ranges from a subtropical savanna with a
maximum density of 2 085 trees and shrubs per hectare in the east to a nearly vegetationless
desert with less than one shrub per hectare in the west. This gradient from east to west coincides
with the gradient for rainfall. Some of the plant species occurring in each of the bioclimatic
regions are specific for that region and ecologically adapted to it.
Information on the bigger mammals was obtained through ground and aerial surveys conducted
on a seasonal basis. Information collected included locality, numbers, habitat, distance
from open water, group size and when possible also group structure, feeding and behaviour.
This information was used to quantify the distribution and status of 36 species of
bigger mammals. Social structure, habitat preference, movement and seasonal changes of
the separate parameters were determined for the more common and easily observed mammals.
Group structure, sex ratios, reproduction and feeding of some species are briefly
discussed. Of the 36 mammal types studied, 21 are regarded as common, 6 as rare but in no immediate
danger of extinction, the status of 3 as unknown, and 6 are regarded as highly endangered.
The endangered types are Diceros bicornis, Aepyceros melampus petersi, Sylvicapra grimmia,
Hippopotamus amphibius, Panthera leo and Lycaon pictus. Of these, two seem to be already
extinct, i.e. Hippopotamus amphibius and Lycaon pictus.
Because the different aerial surveys differ in time and space it was impossible to determine
trends in game numbers. The results of the aerial surveys range from 2 256 bigger m~mals
in the dry season to 8 006 in the rainy season. Therefore information on the past and present
distribution of the various ma;nmals are used as indicators of trends. With the exception
of single smaller antelope and predators, all bigger mammals show a decline in their
range of distribution since 1970.
Die doel van hierdie studie was om basiese inligting vir die daarstelling van 'n meestersplan
vir die bewaring, bestuur en benutting van die fauna en flora in Kaokoland, S.W.A., te versamel.
Hiervolge.:1s is die plantegroei kwalitatief en kwantitatief volgens veldtipes geklassifiseer
en die status, verspreiding en bewegings van die grater soogdiersoorte bepaal.
Om die plantegr<Jei te kon klassifiseer, is daar vir die borne en struike van die varieerbare
kwadrant oerseelmetode, en vir die kruide van die stappuntmetode gcbruik gemaak. Die
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data sodoende verkry is tot digtheid per hektaar, gemiddelde hoogte, gemiddelde kruindeursnee,
gemiddelde stamdeursnee, gemiddelde aantal stamme en kroonbedekking van die verskillende
plantsoorte en spesiesamestelling verwerk.
Bogenoemde kwantitatiewe gegewens is verder aan die hand van bioklimatiese en geografiese
gebiede as kriterium gebruik om die plantegroei van Kaokoland in homogene eenhede te verdeel.
Sodoende is die plantegroei van Kaokoland in 14 veldtipes verdeel. Die veldtipes, tesame
met die plantgemeenskappe wat in 'n spesifieke veldtipe herken kon word, is as volg
beskryf: ligging, grense, topografie, geologie, grond, boomstratum,struikstratum, kruldstratum,
en 'n oorsig van vorige werkers se plantegroei beskrywing en indeling. Verder is ook
die plantegroei van die dreineringsisteme en die plante wat met fonteine geassosieerd is,
beskryf.
Daar is gevind dat die plantegroei van Kaokoland van 'n subtropiese savanne in die ooste,
met 'n maksimum digtheid van 2 085 borne en struike per hektaar, tot 'n feitlik plantlose
woestyn met minder as een struik per hektaar in die weste, wissel. Hierdie oos-wes gradient
hou met die reenval verband. In elke bio-klimatiese gebied word plantsoorte wat spesifiek
en ekologies by die gebied aangepas is, aangetref.
Die grater soogdiersoorte is deur middel van grond- en lugsensusse, op 'n seisoenale basis
bestudeer. Inligting soos lokaliteit, aantal, habitat, afstand vanaf oop water, tropgroottes en
waar moontlik ook tropsamestelling, voeding en gedrag is versamel. Deur middel van die
inligting is die verspreiding en status van 36 van die grater soogdiersoorte in Kaokoland bepaal.
Van daardie diersoorte wat algemeen in Kaokoland voorkom en maklik waargeneem
kon word, is ook die sosiale struktuur, habitatvoorkeur, bewegings en die seisoenale variasie
daarvan, bepaal. Waar moontlik is die tropsamestelling, geslagsverhouding, voortplanting
en voeding bespreek. Daar is gevind dat van die 36 soogdiersoorte wat bespreek word, 21 volop in Kaokoland
voorkom, 6 skaars is, maar nie in onmiddellikc gevaar van uitsterwing nie, 3 diersoorte se
status onbekend is en 6 met onmiddcllike uitsterwing bedrcig word of onlangs uit KaokoIand
verdwyn het. Die bedreigde soorte is: Diceros bicomis, Aepyceros melampus petersi,
Sylvicapra grimmia, Hippopotamus amphibius, Pantlzera leo en Lycaon pictus. Dit wil voorkom
asof twee van hierdie ses bedreigde soorte, naamlik Hippopotamus amphibius en Lycao;z
pictus, plaaslik reeds uitgesterf is.
Aangesien die onderskeie lugsensusse in tyd en ruimte verskil, was dit onmoontlik om die
tendense in die wildgetalle te bepaal. Die getalle verkry met die lugsensusse wissel van
2 256 in die warm droe seisoen tot 8 006 in die reenseisoen. Daar is dus klem gele op die
huidige en vroeere verspreidingsgebiede van die wildsoorte. Afgesien van enkele kleiner antiloopsoorte
en roofdiere is daar gevind dat alle ander grater soogdiersoorte se verspreidingsgebiede
sedert 1970 gekrimp het of besig is om te krimp.
