Desert Lion news november 2023
Wednesday 29 November 2023
Trophy hunting of Xpl-107
The shooting of Xpl-107 was a miscalculated tragedy. DLC has written directly to the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism to enquire about the declaration of Xpl-107 as a problem animal and the subsequent trophy hunting, and we await their answer. The public outcry and criticism of MEFT, on numerous media platforms, has been excessive and over the top. Members of the public somehow acquired raw data (possibly illegally) from the server hosting lions satellite collar and movement data. They then took it upon themselves to “analyse” and attempted to interpret the data to point out wrongdoings by the Government. It was a narrow-minded attempt that was not only unethical, but flawed in its attempt to interpret behaviour and to reconstruct the events that occured. It is a pity that emotions got the better of individuals that give the impression that they care about wildlife & conservation in Namibia.
Cape Town
A presentation entitled “Desert Maritime Lions looking at a Global Climate Crises” was delivered at Maastricht Wine Estate on the outskirts of Cape Town. Etienne Bruwer, Mark Hill, Freddie Senekal and Adriaan Smit are thanked for the arrangements and for their support. Discussions were held with Paratus regarding improved internet access for DLC during fieldwork in the Northern Namib. We wish to thank Miles October and Barney Haremse for their ongoing support.
Xpl-108 “Torra” Lioness
The Torra lioness mated with Xpl-107 for several days during early October and remained in the area of the lower Uniab River. She was fortunately not with the male lion when he was shot a few days later. If the meeting was successful and lioness conceived, she is expected to give birth during mid January 2024. On 20 November 23, the lioness returned to the Uniab Delta, where she was observed killing a Cape fur seal and returned to Raleigh spring where she spent the next few days. The Torra Bay Campsite holiday season is opening again on 1 December 2023, when anglers and holiday-makers will frequent the beaches for two months until the end of January 2024. Similar to last year’s holiday season, DLC will continue to monitor the movements of the lioness, communicate with MEFT and the Torra Bay visitors, and assist with the prevention of potential conflict between the lioness and holiday-makers.
Black-backed jackals
A pair of Black-backed jackals gave birth to a litter of six pups at the Uniab Delta. The den is situated under a large boulder close to the main road, north of the Uniab River. The jackals can be seen playing during the early morning hours up until 10 o’clock.
Orphans Re-unite
The three Orphan lionesses (Xpl-106 “Alpha”, Xpl-109 “Bravo” & Xpl-114 “Charly”) are referred to as such, because their mother died when they were 10 months old. Miraculously the three orphaned cubs survived by swimming onto an island at an oasis near the coast, where they learnt how to catch comorants and other wetland birds. In time they became proficient bird-hunters, operating up and down the wetlands between the dune-belt and the coast. They began cooperating, especially when hunting cormorants, that increased their success rate significantly. The small portions of food that they had to share, however, created tension and fighting between the three. This resulted in them splitting up occasionally. During one of these separations, Xpl-114 “Charly” moved inland across the dune-belt and met-up with her aunt Xpl-69. The old lioness accepted the company of her young niece, and “Charly” did not leave her side until Xpl-69’s death in. XX. As a result, Xpl-114 became estranged from two her sisters.
During early November 2023, Xpl-114 “Charly” and Xpl-109 “Bravo” met up for the first time in nearly five years. The first few days were tumultuous with a mixture of severe aggression and affection. On the second night the two lionesses killed a sub-adult gemsbok and shared the carcass. The aggression at the carcass and their fighting over the last remaining pieces of meat was intense (see video ). Their newly kindled friendship fortunately withstood the aggression at the kill. By the fourth day the lionesses had formed a tight bond and stayed together for 20 days. They separated on 25 Nov 23: Xpl-114 “Charly” moved to the centre of her home range, and Xpl-109 “Bravo” moved westwards to meet up with Xpl-106 “Alpha” and the female cub.
“Charly” standing at kill looking at “Bravo” - “Bravo” looking at “Charly”
Two lionesses lie together after fighting over food during the night.
Lionesses walk and trot side by side.
Lionesses drink and play at President’s waterhole in the Hoanib River.
Lionesses observe elephants at President’s waterhole in the Hoanib River.
Occasional signs of aggression were still present on the fourth day of their partnership.
Aggression between Xpl-114 “Charly” and Xpl-109 “Bravo”
On several occasions the two lionesses hunted giraffes. The hunts were always initiated and led by Xpl-114 “Charly”
Coastal Activities
During the period that Xpl-109 “Bravo” joined Xpl-114 “Charly”, the remain Orphan, Xpl-106 “Alpha” and her large female cub found their way to the ocean. They where they were observed for three nights hunting cormorants and feeding on Cape fur seals.
Xpl-106 “Alpha” and her female cub feeding on a Cape fur seal
Xpl-109 “Bravo” Returns
Within hours of Xpl-109 “Bravo” re-joining her sister and female cub, they killed an adult gemsbok on the Floodplain.
Young female cub of Xpl-106 “Alpha”
