Costal and Hoaruseb Lion activities
Sunday 10 November 2024
“Paratus” Xpl-143 and the Purros Conservancy
The young adult male of the Hoanid Pride has remained together with the lioness Xpl-150. Their movements have taken them dangerously close to Purros settlement and livestock. Fortunately, the “conflict management policy” endorsed by the Ministry of Environment, Forestry & Tourism is active. Geofencing alerts are deployed and with the progress made by Lion Ranger Programme, incidents are investigated, and scare tactics are deployed where needed. Thus far the lions have avoided Purros, whilst tourism sightings have increased. There is the potential for enormous benefits to be gained from tourism with lions in such an unique environment.
Xpl-143 “Paratus” and Xpl-150 in the lower Hoaruseb River.
Progress in research on Maritime lions
The coastal activities of lions continued as they are balancing their hunting behaviour and food intake between the marine and terrestrial ecosystems. The research is now depending entirely on the latest survey & communications technologies, moulded into a specialised vehicle “Joey”, that can locate, follow, observe and record the lions in total darkness and under the harshest of conditions. A special thanks goes to Griet Van Malderen for opening that small window into the world of the Maritime lions.
Lioness moves along gravel plains close to the ocean.Orphan lionesses set off to hunt in the hummocks and marshes for the night.Thermal spectacle on the beach on a cold misty night.Orphan lionesses on the edge of the marshes.Orphan lionesses cross over the dune-belt towards the Floodplain.Three lionesses moving along ridges near the coastline.
4 November 2024 – The first day that the first lioness of the new generation of Maritime lions spends the whole day on the beach.
4 November 2024 – The first day that the first lioness of the new generation of Maritime lions spends the whole day on the beach.
SmartParks Collar
The first new generation “Smart” collar Collar Edge Free was fitted to the young lioness Xpl-151 of the Orphan group. Smart Parks (smartparks.org) provided a new generation lion tracking collar in a Pilot.
The young lioness, Xpl-151 “Gamma” (named after Griet Van Malderen) is the first lioness of the first generation of Maritime lions (since their demise in the 1980s) - that grows up with the knowledge and culture of maritime life and food items.
Young lionesses Xpl-151 “Gamma” with her new radio collar.
