Torra Bay Updates. 25 & 26 dec
Thursday 29 December 2022
Monitoring the movements of lioness Xpl-108 in the seasonal Torra Bay angling area
25 December 2022.
The lioness Xpl-108 spent the entire day/night hunting terrestrial animals in the Uniab Delta area. She attempted several hunts on springboks and ostriches. Whenever she spotted gemsbok, even at distances of >2 kms and especially when juvenile animals were present, she would embark on a long and intensive stalking process. During the night, however, she killed and consumed a smallish animal, most likely a gemsbok calf or a juvenile springbok.
Lioness Xpl-108 scanning and searching for prey along the Uniab Delta.
Brown hyaena searching for scraps where the lioness was feeding during the night.
Xpl-108 stalking gemsbok at a spring.
Lioness approach a salty spring at the Uniab Delta and ambushing a springbok.
Lioness Xpl-108 stalking gemsbok and springbok at the Uniab Delta
26 December 2022
Skeleton Coast National Park rules state that visitors may only drive in the Park between sunrise and sunset. All anglers should be back at Torra Bay before dark. As the sun was setting, the lioness Xpl-108 became active and by twilight she was heading straight for the sea. An unfortunate encounter with anglers near the mouth of the Uniab river could have turned into an unnecessary conflict with more serious consequences had the Desert Lion Trust research vehicle not alerted the visitors. After the anglers left, she continued to the beach at the Uniab mouth. She managed to get a young seal that she dragged to a reed-bed to eat. By dawn she moved eastwards; she crossed the main road and the vast gravel plains, and settled at an old dry spring where she rested between the sedges.
Lioness Xpl-108 became active at sunset and headed for the coast.
Lioness encounters anglers that should not be out and walking around after dark.
Lioness approaches defiant anglers after dark in the Skeleton Coast National Park. A strobe light was used to warn and alert the anglers of the approaching lion.
Lioness crossing the main road at dusk and over the gravel plains as the sun was rising.
