A Namibian First for Research
Sunny Imalwa | November 17th, 2025 | Uncategorized
Green turtles are more than icons of the sea. They are graceful, ancient, and vital to the health of our oceans. They are ecosystem caretakers, keeping seagrass meadows healthy and our coastal waters thriving. Yet despite this, they remain vulnerable to habitat loss, pollution, climate change, and accidental capture.
In 2020, Namibia recorded something extraordinary, a female green turtle was seen nesting at the Kunene River Mouth, the first documented record of a green turtle nesting in our country. A remarkable discovery, and a reminder of how much we still have to learn about this species along our coastline.
Today, Namibia is taking a bold step forward. Researchers from the Namibia Nature Foundation (NNF) are embarking on a pioneering expedition into the Kunene River Mouth to study green turtle populations and their breeding behaviour, a first for Namibian science. Led by NNF’s Joachim Naulaerts and Rodney Braby, alongside collaborator Francois Theart, this research has been made possible through funding provided by the IKI-CREAF project, the Blue Nature Alliance through the Blue Benguela Partnership. and Blue Action Fund through the NIMPA+ project.
Why this matters:
Scientists still don’t know why turtles congregate at the Kunene River Mouth.
The area may be a critical breeding or feeding site — but data is scarce.
Understanding these behaviours is essential to protect this transboundary species.
This research will provide the evidence needed to determine whether the Kunene River Mouth should be recognised as a critical site for green turtles, a key step toward safeguarding their future. Even though the species was recently downlisted on the IUCN Red List, many regional populations remain at risk. Continued research, monitoring, and protection are vital to ensure conservation successes are sustained.
As we head into the kunene, we celebrate a moment of scientific firsts, hope, and commitment, ensuring that Namibia’s marine ecosystem is protected for generations to come.
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