Population Survey

The reports details a total count across the southern-middle section of the park, as in the previous years, but adding in part of the hunting reserve of Azande. It was also decided to undertake a sample count in the north of the park and part of the reserves in order to establish wildlife densities and distribution as well as human numbers, both largely unknown and unmeasured due to security risks in the area. This survey was divided into two parts and was dependent on the distribution and abundance of elephants and the vegetation present in the areas. A total count was performed in the southern-middle section of the park (sub Blocks 1-12), together with part of the hunting reserves (sub blocks A3 and part of GB3, GB4 and MM1). The total area covered was 3, 581km2. Subsequently there has been a sample count in the northern sector of the park (sub Blocks 13-20) and other parts of the hunting reserves (part of MM2, MM3, A3), an area of 4,118km2. The data for the total count is entered. This report presents the results of an aerial survey of elephants and other wildlife species in Garamba National Park during March and April 2014. The purpose of the survey is to provide information about elephant abundance and distribution, as other key species present in the park. This report compares the results of the total count with the last two conducted by Reid & Amube (2007) and Casado. N (March 2012), because they were done following the same methodology within the same surface. The park was home to 22,000 elephants in 1978 compared to the current figure of less than 2,000, a decline attributable to the ongoing poaching of the species. A total of 16 old (CAT3) and very old (CAT4) elephant carcasses were found (as described in Douglas-Hamilton (1996)). The report combines the category 3 and category 4 carcasses per strata. A Cessna 206 was used for the survey. The search rate was 0.28. A total of 170 north/south parallel survey strips, with a spacing of 500m, were flown over an area of 3,581km2.These transects were followed precisely using a GPS, flown at approximately 350 feet (107m) above ground level, and at an average speed of 167 km /hour. The lengths of the 170 survey strips varied between 500m to 63km and the total length was 7,286km. The information is provided for the survey on not per stata. No information on CI is provided. 1718 elephant were counted at a density of 0,63 elephant/km2.