Liwonde National Park Aerial Census

Aerial counts of population sizes of different wildlife species in protected areas can serve as useful tool to assist management decisions. The Liwonde National Park (LNP) faces a number of questions that can be resolved in the light of a better understanding of the animal numbers in the Park and their population trends. These include supplying animals for restocking other protected areas in Malawi, assessing the current biomass and stocking rate for various species, and evaluating suggestions for the introduction of large predators to enhance the tourism potential of the Park. 

Malawi's wild areas in general are under huge pressure and in steady and steep decline owing to the usual problems of demand for land and resources from a rapidly growing population. From a biodiversity point of view Liwonde is a jewel - within this relatively small area are mopane woodlands, brachystegia clad hills, huge floodplains, deciduous thicket and riverine vegetation. There are over 400 species of birds recorded in the Park. The future of the Park is hanging in the balance - poaching is rife and a management plan to protect a corridor to the north which allows the Park's 400-odd elephant to migrate to and from a forest reserve that acts as a vital "pressure release valve" is in jeopardy. In 1987 there were probably over 40 lion in the Park; now there are none. The population of sable is rapidly diminishing and species such as warthog and impala are perversely increasing due to lack of predation. 

In the interest of protecting the wildlife in the short and long term and guaranteeing the future of the Park, the Trust, Wilderness Safaris, IFAW and the Department of National Parks are working on increasing protection and determining the ideal carrying capacity of the Park and the ideal mix of game. The census is a first step to gathering the latter information. 

While censuses have been taken in the past this has been irregular. Now, Liwonde needs solid and regular scientific data and having regular censuses are becoming a critical management tool for the effective running of the Park.

The aerial census of Liwonde National Park began in 2006 and has continued on an annual basis ever since. The Trust has been a pivotal part of funding these since their inception.

BACKGROUND TO LIWONDE NATIONAL PARK
Liwonde National Park is the premier wildlife viewing destination in Malawi. The Park covers 538 square kilometres and is situated in the Upper Shire Valley, with the Shire River, draining Lake Malawi through Lake Malombe to the Zambezi, an important feature. The river spreads out over an increasingly wide floodplain which reaches up to 2km from the main channel in the Chinguni area in the south of the Park. 

The grass-covered floodplains attract large numbers of elephant, waterbuck and impala and are the critical dry-season food resource for most of the wildlife of the Park. There is a large population of hippo in the park, and solitary animals or small groups are seen out grazing at all hours on the floodplains. Mopane woodland provides habitat for an impressive population of sable antelope for which Liwonde is renowned. Liwonde also supports the largest population of African elephant in the country.