Namibia's reputation as a global leader in conservation is being strengthened through ongoing efforts to protect one of Africa's most elusive and misunderstood predators, the brown hyena, with the support of Namdeb's long-standing investment in research and environmental stewardship.
Through its support of the Brown Hyena Research Project (BHRP), Namdeb is helping scientists gain critical insights into the ecology and behaviour of the species while ensuring the long-term protection of fragile desert ecosystems in the Sperrgebiet.
Based in Lüderitz, the Brown Hyena Research Project has become a pioneering conservation initiative dedicated to studying and protecting the brown hyena through innovative research methods, including GPS tracking, camera traps and genetic sampling, Namdeb said.
According to the company, the findings have provided valuable information on the species' movements, feeding habits, social dynamics and its role in maintaining ecological balance within Namibia's unique coastal desert environment.
According to on-site researcher Dr Marie Lemerle, estimating the population of brown hyenas within Namdeb's mining licence areas remains challenging due to the vast and remote landscape.
"We estimate roughly around 200 to 300 brown hyenas in the whole of the Sperrgebiet, but their densities are closer on the coast than in the inland areas," she said.
Ndeb said that many of the hyenas living inland still travel significant distances to reach the coastline, particularly seal colonies, which provide a crucial food source. This highlights the importance of maintaining open wildlife corridors and avoiding barriers such as fences and heavily trafficked roads that could disrupt their movements and threaten their survival.
While some mortality occurs due to human activity, particularly road kills, Lemerle noted that successful breeding has helped maintain a stable population since monitoring began in 1997. The relatively undisturbed nature of the Sperrgebiet National Park has played a key role in preserving the species.
"Namdeb is still the main sponsor of the project, and its annual donations towards the project are very important to us," Lemerle said.
Namdeb said that, in addition to financial support, it has provided practical resources, including a four-wheel-drive vehicle that significantly improved field operations. The company has also assisted researchers in accessing specialised equipment and maintaining long-term monitoring programmes.
Research activities are concentrated in several key areas within the Sperrgebiet. At Baker's Bay, long-term observation has produced groundbreaking discoveries, including evidence of "temporal partitioning", where different hyena clans visit seal colonies at different times to avoid competition.
According to Namdeb, this behaviour has allowed researchers to observe brown hyenas feeding during daylight hours, something rarely documented before.
Furthermore, it said that GPS collar data have also revealed that some hyenas travel more than 90 kilometres to access seal colonies, underlining the importance of these coastal feeding grounds.
Researchers have even documented a female brown hyena successfully hunting adult Cape fur seals, representing the first recorded instance of the species taking prey larger than itself, said Namdeb.
The project also monitors hyena populations at Elizabeth Bay, where the animals have adapted remarkably to the abandoned mining settlement, often using old infrastructure such as pipes for dens. Other areas, including the Pocket Beaches near Bogenfels and Chameis, host more transient individuals, while Karingarab appears to support lower hyena densities.
The company said that current studies include investigations into heavy metal exposure and genetic diversity within brown hyena populations.
Despite decades of research, major knowledge gaps remain.
"We do not know the exact population of the brown hyena in the country," Lemerle said.
She said that large carnivores such as brown hyenas are vital to healthy ecosystems but remain vulnerable to habitat fragmentation and negative public perceptions. Awareness campaigns and the preservation of extensive, interconnected protected areas are therefore essential.
Looking ahead, the project aims to expand genetic research and strengthen collaboration with the University of Namibia to improve understanding of brown hyena populations in Namdeb's Southern Coastal Area.
