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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.

 

October 2010 saw the fifth consecutive annual aerial survey of Liwonde National Park funded by the Wilderness Trust. As with previous years the primary objectives of the survey were to determine the populations and the distribution of all of the large mammal species of the park. Such measures provide baseline information and can allow effective management decisions about the area to be made, including whether, and in what number, animals of certain species may be removed from the area to restock other protected areas in Malawi and further afield. Insight into myriad other aspects of the park’s ecology can also be gained and over time, provided such surveys are conducted at regular intervals and using similar methodology, comparisons can be drawn and trends identified.
In 2010 a number of additional objectives aside from those described above were identified: i) evaluate the extent of human encroachment into the corridor linking Liwonde National Park with Mangochi Forest Reserve, ii) evaluate the condition of the boundary fence, and ii) evaluate the extent of illicit use of the park using indicators easily observed from the air.

As in 2009, a Bantam B22J two-seat microlight was used to fly a total of 21.1 hours over four days to cover the approximately 55 000-hectare National Park and to survey the connecting corridor to the north.

Species
Elephant 404
Buffalo 348
Sable  451
Waterbuck  2002
Impala  1350
Warthog  791
Hippo  1133
Kudu 37
Reedbuck  17
Bushbuck  54
Duiker  2
Total 6589