Fauna

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Birds

Bird diversity in the landscape is high and the species present include many of Namibia's endemic bird species such as Rüppell's parrot, Monteiro's hornbill, Hartlaub's spurfowl, rockrunner and white-tailed shrike. Over 340 bird species have been recorded within the landscape and the Waterberg plateau is one of Namibia’s 19 Important Bird Areas (IBAs). At the base of the cliffs, the water supplied by natural springs creates a variety of bird species. The park supports the only surviving breeding colony of Cape vulture in Namibia as well as breeding populations of peregrine falcon, lanner falcon, black eagle and African hawk eagle.

» Species list of birds

Mammals

Thirty mammal species have been identified on and below the Waterberg Plateau and over 80 species are expected to occur in the landscape. Plateau mammals include leopard, cheetah, caracal, eland, wildebeest and introduced giraffe, white rhinoceros (breeding), black rhinoceros, buffalo, roan antelope, sable antelope, hartebeest, klipspringer, topi, impala and duiker. Below the plateau, mammals include kudu, steenbok, dik-dik, warthog and rock hyrax.

» Species list of mammals

Reptiles

At least 74 species of reptiles are known or expected to occur, with 17 of these being endemic to Namibia and one endemic to the Waterberg area. Twelve species have an international conservation status.

» Species list of reptiles

Amphibians

Thirteen species of amphibians are known or expected to occur. These include the Marbled Rubber Frog which is an endemic species (found only in Namibia), and the giant bullfrog which is classified as 'Near Threatened' in Namibia due to habitat loss and development. The Omatako Dam, being a permanent water body, is important amphibian habitat in the area. Temporary pools in the ephemeral Omaramba Omatako, Eiseb, Otjozondjou, Onaze, Ovitjete Rivers and their tributaries, as well as pans in the Okondjatu area, are also suitable habitat for amphibians, albeit temporary, in the general area.  Other potential habitats in the area include farm reservoirs and earth dams.

» Species list of amphibians


Relevant literature

  • A supplementary feeding scheme in the conservation of the Cape Vulture at the Waterberg, South West Africa/Namibia

    Brown CJ & Jones SJA. 1989. A supplementary feeding scheme in the conservation of the Cape Vulture at the Waterberg, South West Africa/Namibia. Madoqua 19 (2) 111-110

    » Download
  • Information on African Wild Dog Conservancy

    Information on African Wild Dog Conservancy from NACSO website

    Fact sheets, notice-board posters etc on African Wild Dog Conservancy
  • Information on Okamatapati Conservancy

    Information on Okamatapati Conservancy from NACSO website

    Fact sheets, notice-board posters etc on Okamatapti Conservancy
  • Information on Otjituuo Conservancy

    Information on Otjituuo Conservancy from NACSO website

    Fact sheets, notice-board posters etc on Otjituuo Conservancy
  • Information on Ozonahi Conservancy

    Information on Ozonahi Conservancy from NACSO website

    Fact sheets, notice-board posters etc on Ozonahi Conservancy
  • Leopard population and home range estimates in north-central Namibia

    Stein AB, Fuller TK, DeStefano S & Marker LL. 2011. Leopard population and home range estimates in north-central Namibia. African Journal of Ecology, 49: 383–387

    » Download
  • Opportunistic use of camera traps to assess habitat-specific mammal and bird diversity in northcentral Namibia

    Stein AB, Fuller TK & Marker LL. 2008. Opportunistic use of camera traps to assess habitat-specific mammal and bird diversity in northcentral Namibia. Biodiversity and Conservation 17: 3579–3587

    During 2006, camera-traps were set within and surrounding WPP to assess leopard density. Fortuitously, photographic results allowed us to assess aspects of mammal and bird diversity and differences among the Park, farms, and the flat lands surrounding the escarpment. Species composition among the three areas was markedly different, and made sense with respect to differences in habitat and management features.
    » Download
  • Ranging behaviour of Cape Vultures Gyps coprotheres from an endangered population in Namibia

    Bamford AJ, Diekmann M, Monadjem A & Mendelsohn J. 2007. Ranging behaviour of Cape Vultures Gyps coprotheres from an endangered population in Namibia. Bird Conservation International 17: 331–339

    The Cape Vulture is a cliff-nesting vulture endemic to southern Africa. Its range and population size have declined markedly over the last century. Namibia has just one colony, located on the cliffs of the Waterberg Plateau. Five adult males and one immature were captured near the Waterberg site and fitted with satellite-tracking devices and the foraging range was assessed. The ranging behaviour of adult vultures varied throughout the year, and was apparently related to their nesting behaviour.
    » Download
  • Species list: Birds

    Species list: Birds

    Bird species list compiled from data in the Southern African Bird Atlas Project and other records within the landscape.
  • The feeding ecology of Ruppell’s Parrot Poicephalus rueppellii in the Waterberg, Namibia

    Selman RG, Perrin MR & Hunter ML. 2002. The feeding ecology of Ruppell’s Parrot Poicephalus rueppellii in the Waterberg, Namibia. Ostrich 73:(3&4): 127-134

  • The status of cliff-nesting raptors on the Waterberg - SWA/Namibia

    Brown CJ & Cooper TG. 1987 The status of cliff-nesting raptors on the Waterberg - SWA/Namibia. Madoqua 15 (3) 243-249

    » Download
  • Waterberg Plateau Park

    Ministry of Environment and Tourism. Waterberg Plateau Park

    6 page brochure describing the park and its attractions
    » Download
  • Waterberg Plateau Park. What's that? The noises around the bungalows

    Ministry of Environment and Tourism. Waterberg Plateau Park. What's that? The noises around the bungalows

    A 2 page flyer describing the wildlife around the bungalows
    » Download