Loisaba Aerial Census

Earlier this year, an aerial census was carried out across Loisaba Conservancy and Mugie Conservancy to estimate wildlife populations, and to form a basis for population trends in order to influence wildlife management.

Transects were flown using Loisaba’s Piper Super-Cub aircraft, and any wildlife that was present within the aircraft mounted guide wires was counted.

A total area of 424km2 was covered over a total flight time of 8 hours. At Loisaba (230km2), a total of 2,341 individual animals were counted, with a species density of 10 individuals per km2.

The number of individual species of key herbivores counted are shown below:

Common Zebra: 741 individuals – a density of 3.22 per km2 (photo Phil Carter)

Impala: 464 individuals – a density of 2.02 per km2 (photo Hannah Campbell)

Elephant: 411 individuals – a density of 1.79 per km2 (photo Taro Croze)

Grant’s Gazelle: 177 individuals – a density of 0.77 per km2 (photo Hannah Campbell)

Beisa Oryx: 137 individuals – a density of 0.60 per km2 (photo Phil Carter)

Buffalo: 110 individuals – a density of 0.48 per km2 (photo Taro Croze)

Reticulated Giraffe: 75 individuals – a density of 0.33 per km2 (photo Taro Croze)

Grevy’s Zebra: 68 individuals – a density of 0.30 per km2 (photo Phoebe Belcher)

Hartebeest: 28 individuals – a density of 0.12 per km2 (photo Hannah Campbell)

In addition to the pictured herbivore species, five lions were counted along the transects. The on-going lion census activity has so far identified 36 individual lions at Loisaba Conservancy, which equals to one lion per 6.4km2!

Lion: 36 individuals – a density of 0.16 per km2 (photo Hannah Campbell)