Latest News from NAPHA
- Caren Winckler
- Jun 15, 2025
- 6 min read
Updated: Jul 7, 2025
Issue 07/2025 12 May 2025
In this Edition:
Public Consultations on Mining in Protected and Sensitive Areas
Understanding the Origins of the Anti-Hunting Movement
German Glühwein Recipe
Classifieds
NAPHA Discount Program Supporters
Safari Greetings
Winter has arrived, time to bring out the blankets and Glühwein, and perhaps prepare a hearty stew to keep warm.
Please note that there has been an update to the visa on arrival process. Guests who have completed the online visa application are no longer required to fill in the arrival form upon entry. This change should help to streamline the process at the airport and reduce waiting times.
We also remind all members that the last week of May includes several public holidays. It is therefore important to submit permit applications well in advance to ensure they are processed on time.
Kindly note that the NAPHA Office will be operating on skeleton staff on 27 and 30 May 2025.
Please take this into consideration when planning your correspondence or any urgent matters.
Wishing you a great week ahead
NAPHA ExCo and Office
The Mothers Behind the Hunt
In the hunting community, much of the spotlight falls on the hunting professional and the client. Yet behind many successful operations stands a woman, often a mother, who quietly carries an extraordinary load. These are the women who keep the wheels turning.
In many family-run operations, the mother is not just a wife or parent, she is the administrator, accountant, chef, housekeeper, logistics coordinator and, in some cases, even the hunting guide. While others are out in the bush, she is back at camp making sure permits are in order, the next meal is on time, the rooms are ready, the tyres are fixed, and tomorrow’s lunch packs are packed.She handles emails from overseas agents, rechecks arrival and departure times, and is often the one
communicating with clients before they ever set foot on Namibian soil. She markets the business, handles complaints diplomatically, stocks up on groceries and spares, and still makes it to her child’s school play when she can.
Some of these women are also registered hunting professionals, taking clients themselves. Others are the ones who taught their sons and daughters to shoot, to respect nature, and to handle animals properly. Many of them are quietly raising the next generation of ethical hunters while keeping the family business afloat.
They do not seek the limelight. In fact, most would say they are “just helping out.
” But without them, many hunting operations would struggle to run.
As we celebrate women and mothers, let us take a moment to acknowledge the ones behind the scenes. The ones who hold the fort, keep the standards high, and carry the mental and emotional load of a profession that demands long hours, isolation, and enormous resilience.
They are not just supporting the community, they are part of it. Fully.
Public Consultations on Mining in Protected and Sensitive Areas
The Ministry of Mines and Energy is reviewing the National Policy on Prospecting and Mining in Protected Areas and other sensitive regions. This affects mining in areas vital to conservation, biodiversity, and tourism. Public consultations are now underway, offering a key chance to raise concerns, ask questions, and help shape Namibia’s environmental and economic future.
Kindly confirm your attendance and participation by contacting Ms. Karina Haindongo
Date | Time | Town, Region(s) |
Monday, 12 May 2025 | 10h00 | Otjiwarongo, Otjozondjupa Region |
Tuesday, 13 May 2025 | 10h00 | Swakopmund, Erongo Region |
Wednesday, 14 May 2025 | 10h00 | Kamanjab, Kunene Region |
Friday, 16 May 2025 | 10h00 | Ongwediva: Oshana, Omusati, Ohangwena and Oshikoto Regions |
Monday, 02 June 2025 | 10h00 | Katima Mulilo: Zambezi Region |
Tuesday, 03 June 2025 | 10h00 | Rundu: Kavango East and Kavango West Regions |
Thursday, 19 June 2025 | 10h00 | Mariental: Hardap Region |
Friday, 20 June 2025 | 10h00 | Keetmashoop: //Karas Region |
Tuesday, 24 June 2025 | 10h00 | Gobabis: Omaheke Region |
Thursday, 26 June 2025 | 10h00 | Windhoek: Khomas Region |
Unexplained Giraffe Mortalities – Request for Information
We have, in recent days, received reports of an unusually high mortality rate experienced among giraffes on multiple farms north of Okahandja and Omaruru region. Most giraffes were found dead without any prior clinical symptoms, one report describes 3 to 4 giraffes exhibiting signs of depression/lethargy, drooling, and standing in bushes.
At this stage, the cause of these mortalities is unknown. Given the symptoms described, one possible cause of death could be rabies. Currently there are several outbreaks of rabies amongst kudu and eland, however the outbreaks seem to be concentrated more to the south-east of Windhoek, whereas none of the farmers experiencing giraffe mortalities have noticed any recent cases of rabies in kudu or jackal. Giraffes, like any other mammal, could become infected with rabies. Other possibilities could be anthrax or botulism.
Botulism is caused by toxins produced by Clostridium botulinum bacteria. Giraffes as well as other ruminants are known to eat bones when there is a phosphate deficiency in the food. In Namibia this typically occurs in the wet season when grazing and browse is lush. This is the reason why it is highly recommended to supplement licks with phosphate during the summer and autumn months. Botulism causes complete paralysis of the affected animals and post mortem examinations are typically negative (no abnormalities found), with the exception of bone fragments that may be found in the rumen.
Anthrax can cause mass mortalities with a predominance of mortalities in specific species, however, one would expect to also see an increased mortality amongst other game species. Animals with anthrax die very suddenly and sick animals are rarely observed. In anthrax cases one usually sees lots of bloody fluid leaking from the mouth, nose, anus etc. This is a highly contagious disease that can kill people. If you find a carcass of an animal with unexplained bleeding from body openings and the skin, inform your veterinarian and do NOT cut open the carcass!! The meat may NOT be eaten by people or other animals (e.g. pets or captive carnivores)!
As you can see, we currently do not know what the cause of these mortalities are. We urgently need more information regarding the extent of giraffe mortalities (both in numbers and locations), feedback regarding symptoms observed and, ideally, we would like to do post mortems on such giraffe to try and find the cause!
We hope that your information can lead us to an answer on the unusually high mortality rates amongst giraffes.
Therefore, we would like to ask you for the following:
Contact us if you have any observations of giraffes showing abnormal behaviour, or if you have sick or dead giraffes on your farm.
Take photos and videos of giraffes displaying abnormal behaviour, or from the carcass. Ideally, also send a GPS point, or indicate the approx. location.
In case of a fresh carcass, please remove the head (ideally wear gloves and be careful for blood splatters in the face) and send this on ice to us (do NOT freeze, but keep cool). We will have the brain tested at the Central Veterinary Lab for rabies. If a giraffe is sick and you do not think it will recover, the kindest thing would be to shoot it. When you shoot it, shoot either the heart or lower neck. Please keep the brain intact, and send this to us. We do understand it can be a mission to get this sample to Windhoek, but it is important that we test for rabies.
In case where you find a fresh carcass or have shot a sick giraffe, please give us a call. If at all possible, we would like to come out and do a post mortem examination to collect the necessary samples for a diagnosis. If we can’t come out, please open the rumen, and check for bone fragments. Please take photos if you see them.
We consider this a serious situation that could have a very negative impact on wildlife in Namibia. As a result, we will, wherever possible, come out and investigate this disease free of charge. We will greatly value your assistance in this matter; with more data and samples we can hopefully determine the cause of death. We further assure you of our discretion – we will not mention your farm nor name in any public medium. Please do not hesitate to contact us about any relevant observations.
Source: Wildlife Vets
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