GPS collars to track Namib cattle

Twelve Global Positioning System (GPS) collars valued at N$74 000 were donated to the Gobabeb Research and Training Centre and will be used to track the behaviour and movement of cattle in the Namib Desert. The donation was made by the Japanese Oil, Gas and Metals National Corporation, together with their Namibian joint venture partner Reptile Mineral Resources and Exploration. Namibian student Eric Shiningayamwe will be studying the behaviour of cattle in the desert by using the GPS collars and the study will form part of his research towards a Master's Degree in Rangeland Management at the University of Namibia. The study will examine the daily movement and activities of desert cattle in relation to the vegetation and local conditions of the lower Kuiseb River, which may elaborate specifically on animal feeding habits, definitive information about predators and competition with wildlife and animal responses to extreme heat and weather. In collaboration with the Topnaar community, the GPS-enabled collars will be attached to free-roaming cattle owned by traditional farmers along the lower Kuiseb River. According to Gobabeb executive director Dr Gillian Maggs-Kölling the collars will record the position, temperature, and posture of cows every 10 minutes, from which Shiningayamwe can determine the activity, rangeland preferences, foraging range and response to climate by cattle in one of the most extreme rangelands of the world. He said through the deployment of such cutting-edge precision agriculture techniques, the knowledge developed will be to the benefit of all Namibian farmers.“I was astounded by how fat the cattle in the Namib are when there is no grass. I believe that my research will help all Namibian farmers by being able to advise them better on where their cattle go, when they like feed, rest or walk, and why they go to specific areas. Such knowledge will make farming in Namibia more profitable and better oriented to conserving our rangelands,” said Shiningayamwe. Dr Katrin Kärner from Reptile Mineral Resources and Exploration said as operators in the Namib-Naukluft National Park they are committed to a sustainable environment in the park. “As such, we are pleased to support the cattle tracking project, initiated by Gobabeb, which will greatly assist in achieving this objective. We are also delighted to see a dedicated and motivated young Namibian taking on this research and wish him all the best and success.” Gobabeb is situated in the Namib-Naukluft Park, where it is a catalyst for gathering, understanding and sharing knowledge of the Namib Desert and its arid environments. The Gobabeb Research and Training Centre offers local and international scientists the opportunity to work in one of the foremost dry land research centres of the world. ELLANIE SMIT

GPS collars to track Namib cattle

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Namibian Sun 2025-04-30

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GPS collars to track Namib cattle

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Namibian Sun 2025-04-30

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