Scientific Society Swakopmund / Wissenschaftliche Gesellschaft Swakopmund

𝗔𝘃𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗙𝗹𝘂 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘀 - 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 🦭

Since 2020, a dramatic and devastating shift has occurred in our oceans.𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵 𝗣𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗔𝘃𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗹𝘂𝗲𝗻𝘇𝗮 (𝗛𝗣𝗔𝗜) 𝗛𝟱𝗡𝘅 𝗵𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗮𝘀 𝗮 "𝗯𝗶𝗿𝗱 𝗳𝗹𝘂" 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗽𝗼𝘂𝗹𝘁𝗿𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗯𝗶𝗿𝗱𝘀 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗷𝘂𝗺𝗽𝗲𝗱 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗲𝘀' 𝗯𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗵𝗶𝗰 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘀. Marine mammals, specifically pinnipeds (seals, sea lions, and walruses), have suffered greater mortality from this global panzootic than any other mammalian group.

In this upcoming presentation, 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗯𝗶𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁 𝗔𝗿𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗸𝘆 𝗦𝗵𝗶𝗸𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗼 reviews a critical 2026 global case study published by the Royal Society. The data is sobering: 𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗯𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗸𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗻 𝗛𝗲𝗺𝗶𝘀𝗽𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝗹𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝘄𝗶𝗽𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗽𝗵𝗶𝗰 𝗰𝗼𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗦𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝗔𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝘀𝗲𝗮 𝗹𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗻 𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗽𝗵𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘀, driven by a newly emerged, marine mammal-adapted viral strain capable of transmission between seals.

𝗜𝘁 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗶𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲 𝗮𝗻 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝗰𝘂𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴-𝗲𝗱𝗴𝗲 𝗴𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗹 𝘃𝗶𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗽𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹, 𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗼𝗰𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘆. While the threat is unprecedented, understanding the data is our best tool to foster ecosystem resilience and protect Southern Africa’s marine biodiversity before an emergency hits our coastline.

𝗦𝗲𝗮 𝗧𝘂𝗿𝘁𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗡𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗯𝗶𝗮 - 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 & 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 🐢

The 𝗞𝘂𝗻𝗲𝗻𝗲 𝗥𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗺𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗡𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗯𝗶𝗮–𝗔𝗻𝗴𝗼𝗹𝗮 𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗿 has long been known to local observers as a place where 𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝘂𝗿𝘁𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗴𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝗻 𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗻𝘂𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘀. A short survey in 2015 and the first recorded nesting event in February 2020 hinted at the site's significance — but a sustained, systematic effort to understand why turtles aggregate here, and what role this remote estuarine system plays in their life cycle, had never been undertaken.

In November 2025, the 𝗡𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗯𝗶𝗮 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗙𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 conducted the first structured baseline survey of sea turtles at the Kunene River mouth, under the 𝗕𝗹𝘂𝗲 𝗕𝗲𝗻𝗴𝘂𝗲𝗹𝗮 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁. Over 21 days the team recorded more than 2,100 turtle observations and documented ten confirmed mating events — the first direct evidence that this site might function as a seasonal reproductive habitat for green turtles in the South-East Atlantic. Shortly afterwards, in February 2026, the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform, in collaboration with NNF, deployed two satellite transmitters on adult green turtles at the site — the first satellite tracking of any sea turtle in Namibia, which will for the first time reveal where Namibia's turtles travel when they leave our waters.

This illustrated public lecture tells 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗷𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗲𝘆 — 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗹𝘆 𝗼𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝘀𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝘀𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 — and introduces all five sea turtle species recorded in Namibian waters. It will explain why the Benguela ecosystem may matter far more for sea turtle conservation than previously appreciated, and outline a proposed three-year national research programme, currently at concept note stage, that aims to expand surveys to the full Namibian coastline and ultimately deliver Namibia's first National Sea Turtle Management Plan. While funding for the full programme is still being sought, research continues under the Blue Benguela Partnership.

𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗮𝗴𝗲𝘀, 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗼𝗳𝗳 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 — 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗲 𝗼𝘄𝗲 𝗶𝘁.

The following online lecture of Mr. Michael S. Falser is not an event of the Scientific Society Swakopmund, but we are pleased to share the link as follows:

https://www.icomos.de/online-vortrag-german-colonial-architecture--from-contested-history-to-shared-built-heritage_a_478.html

𝗢𝗖𝗘𝗔𝗡 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗗𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗱 𝗔𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵
This 𝗱𝗼𝗰𝘂𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗳𝗶𝗹𝗺 was released on May 08, 2024 to global audiences. Once again we have the privilege of screening this fascinating film at the Swakopmund Museum. 🌊

𝗗𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗱 𝗔𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 takes viewers on a breathtaking journey showing there is nowhere more vital for our survival, more full of life, wonder, or surprise, than the ocean. In the film the celebrated broadcaster and filmmaker reveals how his lifetime has coincided with the great age of ocean discovery. Through spectacular sequences featuring coral reefs, kelp forests and the open ocean, Attenborough shares why a healthy ocean keeps the entire planet stable and flourishing.

Stunning, immersive cinematography showcases the wonder of life under the seas and exposes the realities and challenges facing our ocean as never-before-seen, from destructive fishing techniques to mass coral reef bleaching. Yet the story is one of optimism, with Attenborough pointing to inspirational stories from around the world to deliver his greatest message: the ocean can recover to a glory beyond anything anyone alive has ever seen.
🐙🐡🐟🦐🪸

A Behind the Scenes Look:
Have you booked your spot yet at this year's "Night at the Museum?" We busy preparing, so don't miss the opportunity to meet these characters. One of them might just be the murderer?!

Children : 10-15 years @ 18h00-19h30 = N$ 30
Adults: 16+ years @ 20h30 – 22h00 = N$ 50
Bookings are ESSENTIAL
Book with: Nadine Phiri at 081 2947344

Africa's second largest marine protected area, the "Namibian Islands' Marine Protected Area (NIMPA)", is situated along Namibia's south coast within the globally significant Benguela Current Large Marine Ecosystem and encompasses approximately 9,500 km² of an ecologically important marine area. This expansive marine protected area (MPA) serves as a critical breeding and feeding refuge for numerous threatened species, including the endemic African penguin (Spheniscus demersus), Cape cormorant (Phalacrocorax capensis), Bank cormorant (Phalacrocorax neglectus) and Cape gannet (Morus capensis), alongside diverse cetacean and chondrichthyan species.

Effective management of Africa's second largest MPA demands a collaborative, multi-stakeholder approach. A dedicated team comprising community members, local rangers from the Namibian Foundation for the Conservation of Seabirds, and conservation managers from the Namibian Nature Foundation work in close partnership with international collaborators to support the Ministry mandated with NIMPA's stewardship. This integrated model has generated tangible conservation outcomes while navigating the operational complexities inherent to managing a vast, remote marine landscape.

We have another interesting talk for you in connection with 𝗢𝗰𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗵!🌊

Please be invited to listen to 𝗗𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗶𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗢𝗰𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗡𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗯𝗶𝗮 about the theme "𝗚𝗥𝗘𝗘𝗡 𝗛𝗬𝗗𝗥𝗢𝗚𝗘𝗡 𝗶𝗻 𝗡𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗯𝗶𝗮 - 𝗛𝗼𝗽𝗲, 𝗛𝘆𝗽𝗲 𝗼𝗿 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆?",
📅 on 𝗧𝗵𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝟭𝟭 𝗝𝘂𝗻𝗲 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲
⏰ 𝗮𝘁 𝟭𝟴:𝟬𝟬
🏠 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗟𝗲𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗛𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝘄𝗮𝗸𝗼𝗽𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝗠𝘂𝘀𝗲𝘂𝗺.

This presentation explores Namibia’s growing role in the global green hydrogen industry and examines both the opportunities and environmental concerns associated with large-scale hydrogen development along the country’s coastline.

It will highlight the need for strong environmental governance, transparent environmental screening, robust marine emergency planning, and fair local participation to ensure that development does not come at the expense of Namibia’s natural heritage and ocean health.

Damian Schreiber is the Marine Conservation Field, Research, and Communications Officer at Ocean Conservation Namibia (OCN). He is committed to evidence-based advocacy, environmental educational campaigns, and public outreach. His work focuses on fostering a deeper connection between Namibian communities and their marine heritage to ensure a sustainable future for the coast.

The talk will be held in English.
The entrance is free, donations are welcome.

Celebrate World Ocean Day 6th June in Swakopmund!

Are you in town? Visit our 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗹 at the 𝗢𝗠𝗘𝗚 𝗛𝗮𝘂𝘀 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁! 🤩

🥳The time has finally arrived for another Night at the Museum on the 13th and 14th June 2026! This time prepared and hosted by the Swakopmund Museum Youth Ambassadors.

Step into the shadows at the Swakopmund Museum for a thrilling *Night at the Museum: Murder Mystery*. Explore darkened exhibits, solve hidden riddles, uncover secret clues, and work together to reveal the truth behind a chilling murder that shook the museum walls.

📆 Saturday,13th June and Sunday, 14th June 2026
📌Children: 10-15 years @ 18h00-19h30, Price: N$ 30
📌Adults: 16+ years @ 20h30 – 22h00, Price: N$ 50

📱Bookings are ESSENTIAL, limited spaces available!
Book with: Nadine Phiri at 081 2947344