Wildreness Wildlife Trust combats human-lion conflict in north-west Namibia

Original Story Published by: GLIM, www.botswanaunplugged.com
Photo Source: Botswana Unplugged

(Above) Namibian Desert Lion.

WILDERNESS SAFARIS, Namibia, April 2020/ — Wilderness Safaris’ non-profit partner, the Wilderness Wildlife Trust (WWT), has allocated USD20 000 towards the Namibia Desert Lion Conservation Project to ensure the continuity of the crucial work required in the ongoing mitigation of human-lion conflict in the north-west of the country. Channelled through the TOSCO (Tourism Supporting Conservation) Trust, the funds will be used to procure 10 early-warning GPS and satellite collars, as well as two Remote Alert Units.

“As ongoing supporters of Dr Philip Stander’s Namibia Desert Lion Conservation Project, we realise the importance of supporting TOSCO’s work with the conservancies and NGOs in order to generate broad-based local support for the region’s lion conservation, which supports one of the last free-ranging lion populations in Africa. With the current situation we’re facing in ecotourism, and communities needing to safeguard their livestock more than ever, there is an urgent need to continue doing everything we can to mitigate human-lion conflict. Our contribution will go towards helping Dr Stander implement the necessary measures to track lions and warn community members well in advance, to ultimately enable desert lions to survive, while also allowing people to maintain their livelihoods”, says Dr Neil Midlane, WWT Trustee and Wilderness Safaris Group Sustainability Manager.

Active lion collars submit signals and data, making it possible to track movement. These are vital in sending warnings to surrounding communities, giving them enough time to get their livestock into safe enclosures. “With 23 lions now fitted with radio collars in support of the Early Warning System, and four functional Early Warning Logger corrals at Driefontein in the Torra Conservancy, Mbakondja in the Anabeb Conservancy and two in the Ugab River, much has been done in partnership with the community to help reduce livestock loss, and in turn, conserve the Namibia lion population. We are proud to support Dr Stander in this crucial conservation work”, adds Dr Conrad Brain, Wilderness Safaris Namibia Environmental Scientist.

Over the past few months, Dr Stander and his team have focused on further building their relationship with farmers and communities. The Rapid Response Team has also worked tirelessly, responding to incidents, call-outs and information sourced from the Early Warning System. This most recent funding will aid the expansion of the project, with plans to train and employ more local community members, who will work closely with the farmers in helping to reduce the human-lion conflict.