Research Methodology
This page outlines AfriCat’s structured approach to conservation research within the Okonjima Nature Reserve. AfriCat’s integrated research methodology combines technological innovation, long-term monitoring, and non-invasive field techniques to generate reliable data on species ecology and ecosystem health. These complementary systems allow AfriCat and its collaborators to answer key conservation questions, guide evidence-based management of the Okonjima Nature Reserve, and contribute to the broader scientific understanding of Namibia’s wildlife.
AfriCat is employing three primary data collection systems to generate basic data that forms the foundation for the majority of research questions of AfriCat and our collaborators.
Camera Trap Network
Camera traps are a non-invasive way of monitoring wildlife. They provide information on species location, population sizes and how species are interacting, plus, when individuals are identified, on individual movements. AfriCat has established and maintains an extensive network of camera traps throughout the ONR. Grid and fenceline camera traps are designed to capture all wildlife in the Reserve, including leopards, brown hyenas and their prey. Cameras in baited trees and at pangolin burrows are designed to capture leopards and pangolin respectively. We also have cameras at brown hyena dens to capture brown hyena den and clan activity. A series of cameras on the outside of the ONR fenceline capture wildlife immediately outside the Reserve and temporary cameras are put up opportunistically at ‘special events’ such as a giraffe carcass or hole in the fenceline.
The majority of cameras are running on solar power or rechargeable batteries to minimize the use of single-use batteries. All cameras are visited monthly to collect the SD cards, check power supply and generally ensure the camera is functioning optimally. The baited trees are rebaited at the same time. Pangolin burrow camera traps are the exception; these are checked weekly in order to be able to respond quickly if an untagged pangolin is seen using the burrow.
In May 2025, a study was started to evaluate the use of artificial scent lures for improving detection rates and positive individual identification of African carnivores in camera trapping. The study is being implemented by Victoria Mulyuu, a Namibian student from the Namibian University of Science and Technology, in collaboration with the Ongava Research Centre, the University of George and AfriCat. The study will run until October 2025 and Okonjima was chosen as the study site because of our pre-existing grid camera trap system. It is expected that the findings will benefit camera trap studies for carnivore conservation, including AfriCat’s own carnivore monitoring by camera trap.
AfriCat’s camera trap system on the ONR currently consists of almost 200 camera traps and generates about 50,000 images per month. AfriCat uses TrapTagger, an open-source web application that applies the latest artificial intelligence technologies to manage, process and identify the species in the images. AfriCat staff then manually identify all leopards, brown hyenas, pangolins, rhinos, aardwolves, aardvarks and servals based on individual identification kits developed by AfriCat. All individual identifications are independently verified by a second member of the camera trap processing team.
Wildlife Tracking
Selected research individuals are fitted with VHF and/or GPS tracking devices. VHF (very high frequency) devices emit a signal that enables them to be found in order to observe them. GPS (global positioning system) tracking devices record the location of the animal at scheduled times in order for us to know their movements. The GPS data is picked up by a network of LoRaWAN (long range wide area network) gateways installed within the Reserve. The network to date covers the entire Reserve and some kilometers beyond. Further gateway installations are planned that will further strengthen and extend the LoRa coverage. AfriCat uses EarthRanger, another open-source software, for aggregating and visualizing wildlife, people and assets fitted with LoRa devices within the ONR.
Biological Monitoring
A final data collection system is biological monitoring which includes weight and size monitoring and collection of blood, tissue or other material from the research animals in order to assess growth, health status and undertake genetic testing. Biological monitoring takes place when the animals are collared or tagged plus, in the case of pangolins, we weigh them monthly and check their tags, as their tags are exposed to significant wear and tear and frequently fall off, break or malfunction. All of our genetic material is sent to the Technical University of Munich, Department for Molecular Zoology for analysis.
