Namibia: Rare Desert Lioness Shot Dead



The Namibian (Windhoek)

14 August 2008
Posted to the web 14 August 2008

Absalom Shigwedha


A desert-adopted lioness wearing a GPS tracking collar, which had been observed and studied for nine years, was shot dead at Bergsig in the Kunene Region in July.

A tour operator at Walvis Bay, Fanie du Preez, says the lioness was killed by livestock owners although there is an agreement that no collared lions should be shot, and although farmers are compensated for livestock killed by desert lions.


He said wildlife such as desert-adapted lions, rhinos and elephants brought many tourists to Namibia.

"One living desert lion is, tourism-wise, worth more than all the livestock in these regions together.

Just last week, the same Ministry talked about closing the beaches for vehicles to save our heritage for future tourism.

Now that seems to be just lip-service," said Du Preez.

The Deputy Director of Parks and Wildlife Management, Colgar Sikopo, said he was not aware of the incident.

But Naftali Eliaser, the Ministry's Warden in the Kunene-South region, confirmed the killing.

He said the collared lioness was among a group of four lions that had killed five cattle, seven donkeys and two dogs at Bersig in June and July.

A young male lion was also shot by local farmers, who "had the right to kill problem animals", he said.

According to the Kunene Lion Project's website, the killed lioness was the oldest female in the pride and had been the subject of intensive monitoring.

"Disappointingly, she started killing livestock at Bersig and was shot on July 13 2008," it is stated on the website.


In a recently televised documentary film, the head of the Kunene Lion Project, Dr Flip Stander, said the population of desert lions had recovered from about 30 cats in the 1990s to almost 100 today.

Typical bleeding hearts of the greenies.
The lioness was shot by a black PH working for the company that hunts the Torra conservancy. The lioness was of extreme old age, and obvious had trouble killing her natural prey. Though outfitters normally sign a contract that states they will not shoot any collared animal, the exception on the contract normally reads "except declared problem animals." The lioness was shot on an issued problem permit, after also discussing it with a high official of MET, who in fact, contacted the outfitter and asked that the problem be sorted out ASAP. The only tragedy was that no money was generated for the community by the killing of this lion, as whould have been if they sold the hunt to a trophy hunter.

quote:

"One living desert lion is, tourism-wise, worth more than all the livestock in these regions together.

Worth more to who? This guy is full of crap.

Jason

Karl, is the desert lion physically different from a normal lion?

I have heard no more problem lions will be declared in Namibia. True?

Karl,
This sounds very much like the tearjerker about the so-called last 5 breeding Elephant bulls in the Kunene region a couple of weeks ago in the same paper.
https://forums.accuratereloading.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/1411043/m/552105109

According to their stats half the Elephant population moved through my place last week

I wonder if one lion is tourism wise worth more than a human life

quote:

The lioness was of extreme old age, and obvious had trouble killing her natural prey

That's a deliberate lie. Although 13 years old, she was in a very good condition.
Read this:
http://www.desertlion.info/gpscollars/gps_uniab.html

quote:

Originally posted by nampom

According to their stats half the Elephant population moved through my place last week

Nampom
That can't be right, I have more than half of the population on my place at the momment!!!!!

I wonder how many tourist actualy get to see the rare desert lions that brings so many tourist to our country?