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Simple Summary: In a mountainous area of northwest Namibia, known as the Northern Highlands, community game guards have many years of experience in monitoring local wildlife. But until our study there had been no published research specifically on the elephants in the Northern Highlands. The area is highly remote, and the steep, rocky landscape makes traditional monitoring methods difficult for this small population of elephants, both in terms of on-the-ground tracking and aerial surveys. We identified that an alternative approach of estimating the size of the elephant population could be to gather local ecological knowledge of game guards. From this method, we estimated that there are between 78 and 212 elephants in the Northern Highlands, with a best estimate of 128. We identified how the method could be improved and conclude that it would be applicable for longer-term ecological monitoring of trends in population. This cost-effective approach would supplement other approaches such as aerial surveys that can only provide a snapshot of the population estimate once every five years, because of the high costs. The long-term monitoring would be important to inform the planning of adaptive strategies for the protection of elephants, an endangered species. In planning and monitoring measures to protect wildlife in an area, it is important to have a reliable baseline estimate of population size and trends. There has been minimal published information on a small population of elephants, a keystone and endangered species, in a large area west of Etosha National Park in Namibia, known locally as the Northern Highlands. It is a highly remote, mountainous area in which it is difficult to count elephants. It is semi-desert, where the protection of wildlife is at increasing risk from climate change events, and research on the elephant population is a priority. We interviewed 34 community game guards in the Northern Highlands, focusing on the number of elephants and distinguishing features in known groups. Based on the collated knowledge, and analysis to reduce double counting of known groups, we estimate that there are between 78 and 212 elephants in the Northern Highlands, with a best estimate of 128. The wide range is an indication of the current uncertainties in the method. However, we conclude that this low-cost method, if adapted based on lessons from this pilot study, would be applicable for longer-term ecological monitoring in areas that have a low population density. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Population viability analyses (PVAs) have become a useful tool in wildlife conservation because of their ability to assess the relative impact of threats on populations and identify the most effective management scenarios for endangered species. The Raffles' banded langur (Presbytis femoralis) is classified as Critically Endangered, with populations occurring in Peninsular Malaysia and the island of Singapore. In Singapore, as of 2021, 68 individuals remain, up from approximately 40 in 2010. A key goal listed in a recent species action plan was to increase the population size. In this study, a PVA was conducted to model the integrated effects of deterministic and stochastic factors on estimated growth trajectories. VORTEX software was used to model the relative impact of threats (habitat loss and low genetic diversity) and management scenarios (increased habitat connectivity, translocation of conspecifics from Malaysia) on population growth rates within a 50-year period. Our modelled results estimated the probability of extinction to be 0% in every scenario and the baseline predicted a population of 244 individuals by 2071 with current population growth rates. The impacts of inbreeding on the population were low, with minimal variation from the baseline scenario. The primary constraint to future population growth is habitat availability, with the population having the potential to reach carrying capacity within the next 40-50 years even if improved habitat connectivity allows increased access to neighbouring forest fragments. With this study, we provide further support for the top management priorities of habitat protection and connectivity identified in the species action plan. There is an urgent need to identify other suitable habitats for the species within Singapore to support future population expansion towards numbers consistent with long-term demographic and genetic viability, with the positive impact of translocations likely to be minimal unless carrying capacity can be increased. With populations of most primate species decreasing and cities playing an increasingly crucial role as a refuge for remaining wildlife populations, this study also demonstrates the potential for populations to recover with effective management, with population growth in the Singapore Raffles' banded langur population demonstrated in all threat scenarios modelled. Conservationists can utilise the strategies employed in Singapore to safeguard similar primate populations in fragmented habitats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growing human population in Africa is putting increasing pressure on habitats and wildlife outside of protected areas. The wildlife conservancy model in Namibia empowers rural communities to decide on the use of wildlife. Namibia started to implement the conservancy model in the 1990s and provides relevant experience from which other countries can learn. We reviewed the conservancy model in northwest Namibia to identify lessons for other countries. Our core work included case studies on six conservancies. We confirmed success factors for conservancies include: investment and revenues, strong governance and support from NGOs, as has been identified in previous studies. We conclude that a comprehensive wildlife monitoring programme is also a critical success factor. The wildlife monitoring method in conservancies in Namibia has been consistent since 2001, and the results show that populations have recovered and stabilised, although there are ongoing risks to wildlife and habitats in this fragile landscape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The mountain gorilla, Gorilla beringei beringei, is listed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as Endangered. About 1000 individuals remain in the wild, and the loss of even a single animal has implications for the viability of their two populations. Poaching, political instability and risk of anthropozoonotic disease transmission are potential threats to this species' recovery. Consequently, reducing the risk of infectious disease transmission by humans to the approximately 400 mountain gorillas of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Uganda, must be a priority for conservationists, tourists and the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA). Tourist revenue from gorilla trekking is significant and vital to the local communities and the UWA, and for the total gross revenue of Uganda. Data collected through a questionnaire survey (N = 136) and semi-structured interviews (N = 25) were used to (i) document tourists' self-reported health status, (ii) explore risk of disease transmission to gorillas, and (iii) assess tourists' reported willingness to wear disposable face masks during gorilla trekking. Results show that tourists pose a health risk to gorillas--contact and proximity to gorillas while trekking has increased compared to previous studies, and most respondents reported an average viewing distance of 5 m or less. Twenty-five percent of respondents indicated they might trek if sick, especially when symptoms were not severe and even when aware of regulations forbidding they do so. However, tourists are willing to adapt to new protocols, especially the use of face masks (51%). The introduction of face masks for tourists and guides during gorilla trekking is unlikely to reduce tourism revenue by reducing tourist numbers or reducing their willingness to pay. There is a need for improved access to information regarding potential risks of tourist-gorilla disease transmission in order to encourage responsible health-related behavior in tourists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]