January 9, 2025

In the crossfire: The fight for African wild dogs in Namibia

In Namibia, the struggle for the survival of the African wild dog unfolds in what the program coordinator at the Kalahari African Wild Dog Conservation Project describes as a “war zone”. Local farmers, fearing for their livestock, often resort to killing these endangered animals. Nadja le Roux reports that the impact of this persecution is alarming.
December 3, 2025

Coexistence in Action: Namibia’s Problem Animal Programme

From the rural reaches of Namibia’s expansive wilderness to the often monotonous moments spent collating data at a cluttered desk, Richard Freyer’s work rarely follows a routine. As a Control Warden with the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism (MEFT), Freyer is part of a team tasked with maintaining one of Namibia’s most delicate balances: conserving wildlife while supporting the people who live alongside it. Each year, Freyer contributes to setting wildlife quotas, a cornerstone of sustainable resource management in the country. These quotas are not arbitrary numbers: they are based on field data, aerial surveys and close cooperation with all 86 communal conservancies in Namibia. This annual process then determines quotas for the next threeyear cycle.