Further mitigation measures in reducing conflict with lions in Kunene

IRDNC Kunene’s Human-Wildlife Support (HWS) Unit continues to focus on preventing and mitigating human lion conflict (HLC) in northwest Namibia. Between October 2018 and March 2019, the team has prioritized reducing livestock losses and fostering positive relationships with farmers and other stakeholders such as the Ministry of Environment and Tourism (MET), traditional leaders, and tourism industry operators. Effective HLC response and overall lion conservation thrives when there is strong community involvement, support, and ownership.

Due to the persistent drought and resulting HLC, livestock losses remain unacceptably high in the larger Puros, Sesfontein, Anabeb, Omatendeka, and Ehirovipuka area. Eighty livestock have been killed in the past six months, including cattle, goats, donkeys, and horses. A majority of the losses are still being caused by lions from Etosha National Park as a result of the poor management of livestock along the park’s borders and inadequate monitoring of Etosha lions. The team will go on carrying out the Early Warning System (EWS), kraaling, moving, and improving animal husbandry to combat more damage. As IRDNC’s efforts to lower human-wildlife conflict expand and become more apparent to the communities, the team’s credibility, community trust, and ears on the ground will continue to improve.

In addition to being on call and responding to incidents at any time, assisting farmers move their livestock away from high risk areas, and constructing lion-proof kraals, the team further proved its commitment to the community when the newest and valuable member, Linus Mbomboro, utilized his time and resources to safely transport schoolchildren. There was a problematic herd of elephants north of Anabeb chasing the children as they attempted to walk ten kilometers to school. Since the route was no longer safe, Linus took it upon himself to transport the children to school on Sunday evenings and back to their village on Friday afternoons for several weeks. When local relationships are strengthened, the team gains support in all of its methods that stray away from killing lions.

Community attitude has begun to shift in favor of sustainable human-wildlife conflict solutions. For example, local farmers who were extremely difficult and anti-lion were asked to join a darting and lion translocation activity, in which they received the appropriate exposure to witness the preferred alternative to killing lions. Previously unwelcoming farmers are now beginning to value the team’s presence and willing to work with them.

IRDNC’s HWS Unit’s work never stops, once again shown in February 2019 during a Lion Ranger training in Wereldsend. There were Lion Ranger participants from Khoadi Hoas Conservancy, Tsiseb Conservancy, Ehirovipuka Conservancy, Omatendeka Conservancy, Doro Nawas Conservancy, and AfriCat. The training was another step forward in equipping community members with the tools to claim leadership and sustainable management over their land.

The mission to reduce livestock loss in the midst of a persisting drought and to enhance community relations has been ceaselessly driven by the team and its devotion to communal conservation in the Kunene Region. According to IRDNC team member, Cliff Tjikundi, “it was an extremely busy, exhausting, but successful six months”. The next six months will be guided by the same Early Warning System, preventative measures, and relationship building in order to remain a proactive, effective, and well-respected response team.

Linus Mbomboro, IRDNC Kunene’s Human-Wildlife Support Unit
  • Linus Mbomboro, IRDNC Kunene’s Human-Wildlife Support Unit