Parque Nacional da Gorongosa Moçambique

Gorongosa Wildlife Rebounding

Apr 14, 2008 - Gorongosa National Park

In October and November 2007, the Gorongosa Restoration Project conducted a series of wildlife surveys to document animal life in the Park, including aerial surveys of wildlife and birds and both daytime and nighttime ground surveys (including frogs and toads).  The results of these surveys show us of trends in wildlife numbers that inform our restoration efforts. 

In November, we conducted a comprehensive 25-hour aerial helicopter survey of large mammal populations and distribution across the entire Park. The results confirm and detail the astonishing recovery of many ungulate species over past decade – especially waterbuck, reedbuck, and warthog. Gorongosa has among the best populations in southern Africa of sable, Lichtenstein’s hartebeest, and oribi, and an enormous concentration of impressive crocodiles (>1200). We confirmed the presence of steenbock, the first recorded observation of the species since the 1950s. The results also point to serious management concerns, however: the sad demise of the “Selous” zebra and the poor recovery of eland and several carnivores (hyena, jackal, and lions). (See the table that shows wildlife population estimates for selected GNP species in 2007 compared with previous aerial surveys in 1972 and 1994.)

Because aerial surveys are not suitable for detecting many smaller and woodland-dwelling species, we also conducted the first-ever systematic ground transect survey of wildlife species occurring along the GNP road network.  The route included the entire tourism road system, covered in four independent circuits over a 6-day period in October.  We recorded 26 different species, including a remarkable 711 warthog, 589 reedbuck, 507 waterbuck, 222 bushbuck, and 191 oribi. Numerous species not observed during the aerial surveys were recorded, including five mongoose species (large grey, dwarf, slender, Meller’s, Selous), three squirrel species (sun, red, tree), canerat, samango, scrub hare, honey badger, serval, cape otter, and blue duiker.

Although it can be misleading to extract these road survey results to provide estimates for the entire park without bias, the surveys provide an important repeatable index for comparison in the future. “Visitors to Gorongosa today often remark at the tremendous improvement in game-viewing from the road system relative to a few years ago,” said GNP Scientific Advisor Richard Beilfuss, who designed and led the surveys.  “This survey will enable us to quantify and understand that change over time.” 

Complementary to the daytime ground survey, we also conducted the first-ever night transect survey of nocturnal wildlife at Gorongosa National Park.  A total of 21 different species were recorded, including impala, waterbuck, bushbuck, oribi, and elephant.  Of particular note were the large numbers of nocturnal carnivores observed per road kilometer driven, especially African civet and large spotted-genet. Other highlights included eleven porcupines feeding together on water hyacinth at Nytiti Marsh and a hippo roaming down Picada 11. As with the day-time ground survey, the nocturnal survey provides an invaluable index for assessing changes in wildlife numbers and distribution as habitat availability for various species changes over time with changes in the fire and grazing regime.

Click here to read one surveyors account of the nocturnal survey on MyGorongosa.