News
Hoanib River
Sunday 11 July 2021
During the past week the Hoanib pride killed and consumed two adult Hartmann’s zebras and they are in good physical condition. The density of prey animals in the area remain low, however, and incidents of human-lion conflict may still occur during the next few months. The female large cub (X103Y20F) is not currently with the pride and has most likely died. The cause of death remains unknown with starvation an unlikely cause due to the condition of the rest of the pride and the sibling male cub. ..read more >>
Recovery
Friday 25 June 2021
The desert-adapted lion population is recovering from the prolonged period of food shortage due to the prevailing hyper-arid conditions. The late rains during April and May 2021 produced green vegetation that attracted large numbers of prey animals to the home range areas of those lion prides that occupy the western and more arid segments of the Northern Namib. This influx of prey, however, resulted in inter-specific and intra-specific competition as lions from several different prides and other large carnivores, such as spotted hyaenas and cheetahs, were attracted to the areas of prey concentrations. Lions from three different prides were observed clashing over the remains of a springbok carcass killed by a cheetah, and on another occasion a lioness in poor condition clashed with a group of 12 spotted hyaenas. ..read more >>
Aerial Survey and Ground Monitoring
Tuesday 25 May 2021
METF spearheaded an aerial survey of the distribution and abundance of prey animals, and the recent rainfall patterns in the Northwest of Namibia. Based out of Palmwag, the MEFT used their helicopter to conduct the survey and approximately 10 flying hours were used to survey an area of roughly 18,000km2 between the Ugab and Hoaruseb rivers. The survey provided valuable information on the spread and extent of rainfall as well as concentrations of wildlife. ..read more >>
Survey and Monitoring
Saturday 15 May 2021
Extensive rain showers that reached some of the more barren parts of the Skeleton Coast National Park late in the rainy season may have turned the tables for the wildlife populations. But is is yet unclear how broadly and how much precipitation the desert received and how quickly the wildlife and lion populations will recover from the hyper-arid conditions that prevaled. ..read more >>
Brandberg Human Lion Conflicts
Friday 7 May 2021
A story by Helge Denker: " Sometime after 11 O'clock at night, I am abruptly woken from deep sleep. My wife, Irene, suddenly sits up next to me. I also sit up and through the mosquito gauze of our tent door see an animal facing us in the moonlight, perhaps five metres away but partly obscured by a knee-high shrub. I think it's an inquisitive spotted hyaena. The animal only looks at us for a short moment, then fades into shadow as it walks towards and past the side of the tent. There it turns, pauses – and attacks with a chilling growl. " ..read more >>
Times of Hardship
Saturday 1 May 2021
The desert-adapted lion population of Northwest Namibia is facing starvation and increased levels of human-lion conflict. Due to below average rainfall for several consecutive years and aggravated by recent adverse weather conditions, such as extreme heat combined with sand and dust storms, the Northern Namib has experienced hyper-arid conditions. ..read more >>
Evaluation of environmental conditions
Tuesday 20 April 2021
Understanding the movements of the Orphan lionesses Below average rainfall during recent years have resulted in hyper-arid conditions in the Northern Namib. The conditions have had severe impacts on the local communities, livestock farmers and wildlife alike. A large proportion of the lion population have struggled to find find sufficient prey and many individuals have moved excessive distances in search food. Some lions have moved towards human settlements that resulted in numerous incidents of human-lion conflict ..read more >>
Extensive rainfall
Saturday 10 April 2021
When the two Orphan lionesses left the flooding Hoaruseb river on 26 March 2021 they spent several days feeding on a gemsbok on the Hoanib Floodplain. Due to the rains and flooding most of the prey animals have, however, vacated the area. The lionesses crossed the dune-belt and visited the coast where they killed a Cape fur seal. ..read more >>
Rainfall and Floods
Wednesday 31 March 2021
The research vehicle was stranded on the northern side of the Hoaruseb river for two days as rainclouds continued to build before a successful crossing was made at the river mouth. The Hoanib river was also in flood and access to the Orphan lionesses was not possible. ..read more >>
Orphan lionesses return to Hoanib
Saturday 27 March 2021
When the floodwaters arrived during the night of 19/20 March 2021, the two lionesses had to abandon the remainder of their two zebra carcasses. Early on 26 March 2021 the lionesses swam through a fast flowing river and moved back to the Hoanib Floodplain. ..read more >>
