Dr Philip (Flip) Stander

Dr Stander taking blood samples from a lion in a field study

Dr Philip (Flip) Stander is an expert in the field of conservation, with lots of experience in a number of areas.

Education and awards

Flip did his M.Phil at Cambridge University with his thesis being "Aspects of the ecology and scientific management of large carnivores in sub-Saharan Africa.
After obtaining his M.Phil, he went on to do his doctorate at Cambridge University and received a PhD for his thesis "Ecology and hunting behaviour of lions and leopards".
1999 conservationist of the year award - Namibia Professional Hunters association.
T. H. Huxley award for doctoral thesis, 1995 - Zoological society of London.
Charles A Lindbergh Grant recipient, 1992.
Scientific fellow of the Zoological Society of London.
Member of the I.U.C.N. Cat Specialist group.
Fellow of the Cambridge Philosophical Society.

Professional experience

Flip has over 20 years of experience in wildlife management and research. He initially worked as a field and capture manager for Oryx game capture before moving to the United states as a research associate with Cornell University. After this he returned to Namibia where he worked as a ranger and field research officer with the Ministry of Environment and Tourism (MET).

After eight years in this role, Flip studied at Cambridge University to obtain his M.Phil and PhD, before returning to Namibia, where he rejoined MET.

Flip has worked in a number of positions within MET, and some of his roles are............

1996-2003: National co-ordinator for large carnivore conservation

1998-2003: Head of the aerial survey and monitoring unit

2001-2002: Acting director, scientific services

Flip has since October 2000 been involved in CITES MIKE (CITES group Monitoring the Illegal Killing of Elephants).

In early 2004 Flip resigned from MET and has founded his own wildlife consultancy business - Wildlife Science. Flip is still actively involved with CITES MIKE.

Experience and Specialities

Carnivore ecology and conservation management

Eleven years studying the hunting behaviour and ecology of lions.
Nine years studying ecology, behaviour and management of leopards, Spotted hyena and wild dogs.
Studies of demography and population dynamics of lions, leopards and wild dogs in two conservation areas and three communal areas.

Community-based conservation

Designed and managed a community-based natural resource management programme with the Ju/Hoansi San community in north-eastern Namibia for over four years. Project focus on quantifying local skills and involving Ju/Hoan in assessing various natural resources while obtaining scientifically acceptable standards. Designed and implemented an eco-tourism package based on following and viewing leopards. Trained San to become natural resource managers and to benefit through non-consumptive use of resources such as the leopard.

Wildlife Management

Problem animal control and management: elephants, lions, spotted hyena, leopards and wild dogs.
Over 300 immobilisations of large carnivores. Researching drug use and techniques.
Mass capture and care of large ungulates: 2740 gemsbok, 1380 hartebeest, 550 mountain zebra, 274 giraffe, 220 eland, 195 kudu captured and transported over distances of up to 3000km.
Aerial census and studies of movement and migration.
Horse patrols, foot patrols, anti-poaching precaution, windmill and fence maintenance, and general wildlife management.

Vegetation monitoring and population dynamics

Assessments of large herbivore/plant interaction
Monitoring of various plant population (herbaceous and woody) with emphasis on species diversity, height class distribution and utilisation (herbivores and fire)
Design of repeatable and representative methods of determining species diversities and utilisation of various veldt types and plant populations
Design of a method to measure rainfall over an area of 2.2 million hectares
Monitoring of fire. Formulated and implemented burning strategies.

Other experience

Designed, piloted and analysed large-scale aerial surveys in Namibia between 1984 and 2003 including a sample count in 1998 of northern Namibia involving three aircraft and 600 flying hours.
Private pilots license with over 3000 hours experience of aerial census and radio tracking.
Experience of fund raising for conservation projects - approx US$125,000 raised for a community conservation project in the Tsumkwe district of Namibia between 1992 and 1995.
Fluent in English and Afrikaans, and speaks German and Ju/Hoan (Bushman) to a basic level.

Publications

Flip has written many articles which have been published in scientific journals, as well as many items for books such as encyclopaedias. The following are some of his major publications in refereed journals.

Stander, P.E. 1998. Spoor counts as indices of large carnivore populations: the relationship between spoor frequency, sampling effort and true density. J. Appl. Ecol. 35: 378385.
Stander, P.E., Ghau, //., Tsisaba, D., ,Oma, II & IUi, I. 1997. Tracking and the interpretation of spoor: a scientifically sound method in ecology. J. Zoo/., Lond. 242: 329-341.
Stander, P.E., Haden, P., Kaqece, II & Ghau, 11. 1997. The ecology of asociality in Namibian leopards. J. Zoo/., Lond. 242: 342-364.
Stander, P.E. 1997. Field age determination of leopards by tooth wear. Afr. J. Eco/. 35: 156-161.
Laurenson, M.K, Esterhuysen, J., Stander. P. & Van Heerden, J. 1997. Aspects of rabies epidemiology in Tsumkwe District, Namibia. Onderstepoort J. Vet. Res. 64: 39-45.
Stander, P.E., Ghau, X., Tsisaba, D. & Txoma, X. 1995. A new method of darting: stepping back in time. Afr. J. Eco/. 34: 55-59.
Stander, P.E., Nott, T.B. & Mentis, M.T. 1993. Proposed burning strategy for a semi-arid African Savanna. Afr. J. Eco/. 31: 282-289.
Stander, P.E. & Albon, S.D. 1993. Hunting success of lions in a semi-arid environment. Symp. zoo/. Soc. Lond. 65: 127-143.
Stander, P.E. 1993. Conserving large African carnivores in a developing world. In: Wildlife Ranching: A celebration of Diversity (Eds W. van Hoven, H. Ebedes & A. Conroy) Promedia, Pretoria.
Stander, P .E. 1992. Cooperative hunting in lions: the role of the individual. Behav. Eco/. Sociobio/. 29: 445-454.
Stander, P.E. 1992. Demography of lions in the Etosha National Park, Namibia. Madoqua. 18: 1-9.
Stander, P.E. 1992. Foraging dynamics of lions in a semi-arid environment. Can. J. Zoo/. 70: 8-24.
Nott, T.B. & Stander, P.E. 1991. The monitoring of density and utilization of two tree species in the Etosha National Park. Madoqua. 18: 10-14.
Stander, P.E. & Morkel, P.vdB 1991. Field immobilization of lions using disassociative anaesthetics in combination with sedatives. Afr. J. Eco/. 29: 137-148.
Stander, P.E. & Gasaway, W.C. 1991. Spotted hyaenas immobilized with Ketamine/Xylazine and antagonized with Tolazoline. Afr. J. Eco/. 29: 168-169.
Gasaway, W.C., Mossestad, K.T. & Stander, P.E. 1991. Food acquisition by spotted hyaenas in Etosha National Park, Namibia: predation versus scavenging .J. Afr. Eco/. 29: 64-75.
Stander, P.E. 1990. A suggested management strategy for stock raiding lions in Namibia. S.A. J. Wild/. Res. 20: 37-43.
Stander, P.E. 1990. Notes on the foraging habits of the cheetah. S. Afr. J. Wild/. Res. 20: 130-132.
Stander, P.E., Nott, T.B., Lindeque, P.M. & Lindeque, M. 1990. Mass marking of zebras in the Etosha National Park, Namibia. Madoqua. 17:47-49.
Joubert, F.G. & Stander, P.E. 1990. Capture myopathy in an African lion. Madoqua. 17: 51-52.
Gasaway, W.C., Mossestad, K.T. & Stander, P.E. 1990. Demography of spotted hyaena in an arid environment, Etosha National Park. Madoqua. 16: 121-127.
Panagis, K. & Stander, P.E. 1989. Marking and subsequent movement patterns of springbok lambs in the Etosha National Park, Namibia. Madoqua. 16: 71-73.
Stander, P.E. & Stander, J. 1988. Characteristics of lion roars in Etosha National Park. Madoqua.15: 315-318.
Stander, P.E. 1987. Predation on springbok lambs. Madoqua. 15: 263-264.
Stander, P.E. (1997). The ecology of lions and conflict with people in north-eastern Namibia.
Proceedings of a Symposium on Lions and Leopards as Game Ranch animals, Onderstepoort, pp 10-17.
Stander. P.E., Kaqece //au, Nisa lui, Tsisaba Dabe & Dam Dabe. (1997). Non consumptive utilisation of leopards: community conservation and ecotourism in practise.
Proceedings of a Symposium on Lions and Leopards as Game Ranch animals, Onderstepoort, pp 50-57.