Our mission here at Ongava Research Centre (ORC) is to advance ecological research that informs conservation efforts in Namibia and beyond. Our team has recently published several studies that provide valuable insights into wildlife ecology, human-wildlife interactions, and conservation strategies. Below, we provide a brief overview of these latest contributions to science.
Understanding herbivore foraging patterns is essential for the management of semi-arid savanna ecosystems. This study introduces an innovative, open-source method to monitor herbivory at fine spatial and temporal scales, providing a valuable tool for researchers and conservation managers to assess grazing pressure over time related to waterhole distribution. The research utilised our long-term camera trap dataset, demonstrating the value of long-term monitoring in understanding herbivore-vegetation dynamics. This work was conducted in collaboration with Onguma Nature Reserve, further strengthening regional conservation research efforts.
Weber, M.A.B., Strijbis, J., Osner, N., Périquet-Pearce, S., Crowther, T.W. & Werden, L.K. (2025). An Open-Source Method for Spatially and Temporally Explicit Herbivory Monitoring in Semi-Arid Savannas. Journal of Environmental Management. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2025.124690
Human activity can alter wildlife behaviour, especially around critical water sources. Our research, which utilised historical data collected at Ongava, was conducted in collaboration with the University of Georgia and represents the first publication from Jessy Patterson – one our PhD student. We used camera trap images collected during periods overlapping annual waterhole counts by human overseer to quantify the effects of human observer presence of wildlife behaviour. The study reveals that some African mammals, for example giraffes and some carnivore species, adjust their waterhole visitation times in response to human presence, highlighting the importance of minimising disturbances in these vital habitats to support natural wildlife activity patterns.
Patterson, J.R., Ndlovu, N., Beasley, J.C. & Périquet, S. (2024). Effects of human presence on African mammal waterhole attendance and temporal activity patterns. Journal of Zoology. https://doi.org/10.1111/jzo.13245
Intraguild interactions between large carnivores play a crucial role in shaping these species spatial ecology, influencing movement patterns, resource use, and coexistence strategies. Contrary to traditional predator-avoidance theories, our findings show that spotted hyaenas do not actively avoid areas used by lions. Instead, they may tolerate lion presence to exploit scavenging opportunities, emphasising the complexity of carnivore interactions in shared landscapes. This study was conducted in Hwange National Park during Dr Stéphanie Périquet’s PhD research and was conducted in collaboration with WildCRU from Oxford University.
Périquet, S., Courbin, N., Banda, E., Loveridge, A., Macdonald, D., Revilla, E., First, H. & Valeix, M. (2025). Don’t mind the cat: potential for intraguild interactions with lions does not affect spotted hyaena habitat selection. Journal of Zoology. https://doi.org/10.1111/jzo.70004
Lions face significant threats from human activity, but the level of risk varies across different landscapes. This study, conducted under the Greater Etosha Carnivore Programme, utilises historical reports to examine how environmental conditions and socio-economic factors influence lion mortality risk. The findings provide critical insights for developing targeted conservation strategies that account for regional variations in threats.
Naha, D., Kilian, J.W., Goelst, C., Cloete, C. & Beasley, J.C. (2025). Anthropogenic mortality risk of lions depends on a combination of environmental, climatic, and cultural factors within a Sub-Saharan African ecosystem. Global Ecology and Conservation. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03514.
