harnas life line project
rehabilitation and release program
The most comprehensive goal for the Life Line project is to create a balanced and safe environment for all animals suitable for release and allow them to adapt into their natural, wild surroundings. Harnas has been rehabilitating sick, injured, orphaned and problem animals for the past 31 years and has in this period developed an exemplary infrastructure for rehabilitation.
Approximately 25% of the animals on Harnas are classed as releasable. |
 |
The biggest obstacle has been finding release sites, as the most successful method of rehabilitating any animal is to return them to the habitat they were originally from. During the last 30 years Harnas have acquired an indispensable amount of knowledge, experience and resources.
 |
Harnas believe that conservation and the Namibian Tourism Industry have a very important contribution to deliver by establishing a sustainable animal future in Namibia.
Harnas is a place for second chances, no matter how insignificant the being might seem to the outside world and fondly believe that all living creatures have the right to that opportunity.
The Life Line is a place for Kings without kingdoms
The anthill – An observation point at a waterhole where research is done on game and wildlife species for the release project. |
continual goals of the harnas life line project
animal related goals are the following:
research
Part of the Life Line Project is to conduct research in continual protection of the released animals as well as to provide important knowledge for the future of Harnas animals and other conservation foundations. Harnas will serve as an exemplar for other foundations across the world. Our goal is to release predators into what is left of the Namibian wild. In doing so, we hope to be part of the efforts to remove several species from the endangered species list.
GPS collars
After much research it was decided to use the German company Vectronic Aerospace GmbH to purchase the entire system from. This system will have a communication range of around 5km between the chosen collared animal and the relay tower. The whole system, including tower, runs off solar power stored in on-location batteries. The collars will transmit data to the tower where the data will be stored. An additional radio modem is then linked to an office research station computer which downloads the collar data. |
 |
Although the system is complex and have not been standardized, Harnas will serve as a testing ground to perfect it. For further information on the GPS collar system, including pricing, please visit www.vectronic-aerospace.com
prey base sustainability
An important part of the project is to make sure that the Life Line area is stocked with the appropriate type and amount of prey species. Having enough food available to all animals is crucial to maintaining a healthy eco-balance.
 |
A large amount of impala, springbok, hartebeest, and other herbivorous species are bought to stock the Life Line camp. It is very important that the prey have an opportunity to get to know their perimeters, waterholes and geography of the area well before the predators are released. This would prevent animals running through fences or being unfair prey. It also provides a better, natural way of life for both prey and predator, allowing the animals’ instinctive nature to take control. |
slow release program
The slow release program is based on certain individuals within a given species that has been carefully chosen on individual potential in regard to the probability of their survival in the wild. Of course it is impossible to guarantee that the chosen animal’s release will be successful. How then is success determined?
By releasing animals first in an area where there will be little or no major threat from predation and also by sending out researchers to monitor them and ensure their safety. During this stage the animal will first be released on a daily basis. A team takes the animal to the selected area, study it and then collect it before dark.
 |
Once further studies prove that the animal can survive in its chosen habitat comfortably during the day the animal is left overnight, still with a team constantly observing through the night. This is best done during periods of full moon due to the increased visibility of such occasions, and therefore the reduction of artificial light produced by the research team.
The Tree house – An observation point at a waterhole where research is done on game and wildlife species for the release project. |
After certain criteria’s are met, for example exhibiting stalking behavior in predators, the animal is left alone with a GPS collar on. From this point onwards the location and well-being of the animal is checked on a daily basis. During these stages the research team monitors the animals’ general condition and also the animals’ behavior and attitude towards humans. The feeding procedure for the animal also changes; the amount of food given is slowly reduced to encourage natural hunting or foraging behavior and careful checks are made to ensure that the animals’ health does not suffer as a result. Limiting interaction between humans and the animal, gradually reduced to as little as possible, also aids the release procedure. During the release of a few species major improvement was documented in the animals’ behaviour and their ability to hunt and kill. After numerous months of roaming freely, all physical contact with these subjects is stopped.
vegetation balance control
| For the Life Line Project to be completely viable for the animals released, the vegetation balance needs to be controlled. Research has been done and the results show that the Harnas area is more than suitable for this project. The research will continue during the Life Line projects’ active period. |  |
sustainable waterhole management
Waterholes have been constructed with irrigation systems to permit a constant flow of water for the wild animals. The van der Merwe family, the Harnas volunteers and workers have converted the farm dams into natural waterholes. Methods to manage these waterholes and their maintenance are constantly observed so that the animals’ natural habitat and environment can continue to develop.
animal health control
 |
Animal health management is a massive undertaking, requiring enough funds for surgery equipment, microscopes, medicines, and vaccinations. Without these, the project will fail as even the smallest virus can eliminate an entire family of cheetahs. Residential veterinary staff is necessary in order to keep the animals healthy and to supply on-site diagnosis for a variety of possible problems. |
security
The released animals can be completely sustained with the above help, but poaching, sadly, remains a major factor in animal conservation. Therefore, 24-hour surveillance is necessary to assist an anti-poaching unit. Not only would this team provide safety for our animals but the workers and guests as well. Fence patrolling, as well as daily monitoring, tracking, and research will help the animals to thrive. In order to do so, Harnas needs food and shelter for these units, research equipment and study materials for both the volunteer staff and the permanent staff. The process of establishing a security force to patrol the external electrical fences on horseback has been implemented.
case studies
female leopard lost:
| Lost, was gradually released into the Life Line. The Life Line is an area of about 8 000 ha populated with many different species, ranging from smaller animals, such as Warthogs and steenbok, to large herbivores, like Kudu. Throughout the slow release program Lost was monitored 24 hours a day, until a stage was reached where she became familiar with an area and could be left to roam freely. |  |
 |
Prior research in the Tsavo National Park on the sizes of the home range of 10 different leopards, using radio tracking for three years, varied considerably from nine up to 63km2. Density was estimated one leopard per 13 square kilometers. The density levels of leopards in the wild varies considerably in Namibia, as it does in other areas, dependent on many environmental factors such as bush density and abundance of prey. Initial research on Lost found that she had a home range or territory of an estimated 5km2. |
During further research it became apparent that she had established a home location or home base, an area which she commonly frequents. In the earliest stages of the release program she stayed at the primary release site, but as time passed she moved further away from this site. Frequent sightings of her further away proved that she increased her territory dramatically, possibly due to the lack of other female leopards in the area.
Three female cheetahs; Duma, Joany and Pride, all of which were hand raised, has undergone the soft release program. An area was chosen where there is a limited amount of danger for them. The cheetahs were approximately three years of age and in perfect condition for release at the time. On the release date volunteers were allocated to monitor and study their behaviour and movements. The volunteers were given research sheets to fill in containing information needed to see whether the cheetahs will be able to survive or not. Initially the cheetahs’ movements and behaviour was a bit dull. On a few occasions the cheetahs stalked horses but soon found out the hard way that the selected prey was to large. Yet with each passing day they grew in confidence and their stalking methods improved dramatically. Pride was first to figure out to use trees as cover to get close enough to sprint in for the kill putting her superior speed to good use. At first the prey species were unsure how to react as most of them had never seen the particular predators, but soon started displaying higher awareness. After the initial interaction, the prey used a lot more caution on approach of the water hole. It was also found that during their feeding times the prey species never lifted their heads, obviously not feeling threatened. After a few kills were made by the cheetahs, the prey species lifted their heads on intervals of 2-3 min, scanning their surroundings for threat.
| During the dry Namibian winter the water hole in the specific area dries up very quick due to high evaporation levels and because it is the only source of water for a multitude of game. The water pump which refills the water hole can only pump a limited amount of water per day. This in turn caused the cheetahs to expand their hunting grounds as prey species had stopped frequenting the specific watering point, looking for water elsewhere. |  |
Even when water was pumped into the watering hole the cheetahs had gotten into the habit of travelling further to hunt. Distances travelled by each female on a daily basis were estimated between three and six kilometres. On a few odd occasions one cheetah travelled over ten kilometres in only a few hours. Success rate differed between the females. During the observation period, one female made nine kills, four of which were juvenile warthogs and five being juvenile kudus.
On most of these kills there were eye witnesses that observed direct throat kills. The cheetahs applied pressure on the throat and the prey died within two minutes. During kills their prey only made a limited amount of noise, meaning that the cheetahs were applying sufficient pressure. Another interesting observation was where the cheetahs first started eating from. Cheetahs in the wild do not always have enough time to finish their kill due to inter- and intra- specific competitions and therefore start feeding from the rump where most nutrition is found. On all kills made, the kill was opened from the rear and when they had enough time after the rump was completed, they continued onto the rest of the kill. This proves that they have all the instincts and capabilities to hunt and kill without a mother teaching them. Of all the large carnivores, female cheetahs spend the most time teaching their young how to hunt. Without this training their success as predators is not very high and thus could have fatal results. Yet contrary to this fact it has been established that most predators maintain an instinct for hunting and by trial and error soon learn what works and what not, also proving that these amazing cats have problem solving abilities and a knack for remembering beneficial activities.