Kunene Lion Ranger Programme highlights

The third quarter of this year proved to be the busiest time for the IRDNC Kunene Human-Wildlife Support Unit. The team worked closely with conservancies’ lion rangers to monitor predator movement and limit conflict between lions and rural communities. During this period, the team responded to 74 human-lion conflict incidents, carried out 54 patrols and monitoring of lions, collaring five lions with the assistance of the Desert Lion Conservation Trust (DLCT) and conducted 22 training events for conservancies’ game guard and farmers on the Early Warning Systems. Early Warning Systems consists of early-warning towers and early-warning collars which alerts farmers when collared lions are in their proximity, giving them farmers a chance to protect their livestock. Six new Early Warning System towers were constructed between July and September.

The team further erected four logger towers to monitor lion movement pattern, worked with farmers and volunteers to erect six new predator proof kraals within the conservancies, and translocated problem lions with the help of Ministry of Environment and Tourisms (MET) to prevent intensified conflict with farmers.

As a result, the numbers of reported lion incidents in northwest Namibia are decreasing thanks to the committed lion ranger team, farmers and local communities. The Unit’s awareness program created a more positive perception of farmers on lion conservation and the early warning systems have been immensely helpful in high incident areas. The team, however, is encouraging local farmers to reduce their stock numbers, especially in the face of prevalent drought when human-wildlife conflict becomes fury.

Predator-proof kraal
  • Predator-proof kraal
Desert Lion
  • Desert Lion