N$10 000 reward offered in mass Cape Cormorant killings investigation
At least 50 killed instantly, many more injured
Clues at the scene of the gruesome killings suggest that a 4x4 vehicle accelerated just before ploughing into the flock, leading investigators to believe the act was deliberate.
A reward of N$10 000 is being offered for information about the culprits suspected of deliberately running over a flock of endangered Cape cormorants in the Dorob National Park this month, killing and injuring at least 50.
Officials from the fisheries and marine resources ministry discovered the dead birds at Canopy on Friday, 17 January. However, the suspects have not yet been caught.
The ministry's Chief Inspector Gabes Shekutamba said they were patrolling the beach when they passed two large flocks of birds. At a third flock, Shekutamba noticed some birds struggling to fly. He caught one and realised its leg was broken.
“It was crushed, and another bird’s wing was broken,” he said.
It is alleged that a 4x4 vehicle was used to plough into the flock of birds on the beach, causing multiple deaths and injuries.
“From the tracks, it appears the vehicle accelerated just before ploughing into the flock. At least 50 birds died instantly, with many more injured," Shekutamba said.
“It looks like the vehicle then stopped, and people got out barefoot – possibly to remove birds that were stuck to the vehicle’s front grille. From there, the tracks lead directly to the road,” he said.
Cormorants are well known for their slow take-off, meaning the birds likely could not move out of the vehicle’s path in time.
The ministry is calling on the public for information that could lead to the prosecution and successful arrest of the parties responsible for the mass death.
At high risk
According to the ministry, the population of these seabirds in Namibia has declined by 57% over the past 30 years.
Local biologist Jessica Kemper explains that a bird species is considered endangered if its population has decreased by more than half over three decades.
At first glance, there may appear to be large numbers of Cape cormorants on Namibia’s beaches, but in reality, the majority of the local population is believed to have died out.
The Namibian Foundation for the Conservation of Seabirds (Namcob) is also supporting the search for the suspects and is sponsoring the reward.
Namcob officials warn that there is growing concern over Namibia’s seabird populations, with the Bank cormorant, Cape gannet and African penguin also at risk.
The African penguin was declared a critically endangered species in October last year. Climate change’s impact on fish stocks and repeated outbreaks of avian diseases are contributing to population losses.
Help the authorities
Cape cormorants breed on islands near Namibia’s southern coast or on artificial islands along the central coastline before moving with their young to areas like Canopy near Henties Bay to search for food and strengthen their wings, according to local seabird scientist Desmond Tom.
Tom emphasised that the birds originate from South Africa, Namibia and southern Angola. He noted that injured penguins are generally stronger and can still recover if found in time, but cormorants cannot heal from a broken wing or leg due to their hollow bones.
Anyone with information about the incident is urged to contact Shekutamba at the fisheries on 081 281 8106.
Officials from the fisheries and marine resources ministry discovered the dead birds at Canopy on Friday, 17 January. However, the suspects have not yet been caught.
The ministry's Chief Inspector Gabes Shekutamba said they were patrolling the beach when they passed two large flocks of birds. At a third flock, Shekutamba noticed some birds struggling to fly. He caught one and realised its leg was broken.
“It was crushed, and another bird’s wing was broken,” he said.
It is alleged that a 4x4 vehicle was used to plough into the flock of birds on the beach, causing multiple deaths and injuries.
“From the tracks, it appears the vehicle accelerated just before ploughing into the flock. At least 50 birds died instantly, with many more injured," Shekutamba said.
“It looks like the vehicle then stopped, and people got out barefoot – possibly to remove birds that were stuck to the vehicle’s front grille. From there, the tracks lead directly to the road,” he said.
Cormorants are well known for their slow take-off, meaning the birds likely could not move out of the vehicle’s path in time.
The ministry is calling on the public for information that could lead to the prosecution and successful arrest of the parties responsible for the mass death.
At high risk
According to the ministry, the population of these seabirds in Namibia has declined by 57% over the past 30 years.
Local biologist Jessica Kemper explains that a bird species is considered endangered if its population has decreased by more than half over three decades.
At first glance, there may appear to be large numbers of Cape cormorants on Namibia’s beaches, but in reality, the majority of the local population is believed to have died out.
The Namibian Foundation for the Conservation of Seabirds (Namcob) is also supporting the search for the suspects and is sponsoring the reward.
Namcob officials warn that there is growing concern over Namibia’s seabird populations, with the Bank cormorant, Cape gannet and African penguin also at risk.
The African penguin was declared a critically endangered species in October last year. Climate change’s impact on fish stocks and repeated outbreaks of avian diseases are contributing to population losses.
Help the authorities
Cape cormorants breed on islands near Namibia’s southern coast or on artificial islands along the central coastline before moving with their young to areas like Canopy near Henties Bay to search for food and strengthen their wings, according to local seabird scientist Desmond Tom.
Tom emphasised that the birds originate from South Africa, Namibia and southern Angola. He noted that injured penguins are generally stronger and can still recover if found in time, but cormorants cannot heal from a broken wing or leg due to their hollow bones.
Anyone with information about the incident is urged to contact Shekutamba at the fisheries on 081 281 8106.
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