https://www.dailymaverick.co.z...-for-criminal-probe/

Link has photo of collared lion.



Storm brewing over hunt of iconic collared desert lion in Namibia


By Don Pinnock

13 Dec 2023

The hunters came quietly, killed a magnificent, collared pride male lion and left. But someone was watching. Now the Namibian Ministry of Environment, with memories of the Cecil hunt debacle in Zimbabwe, is scrambling to put out fires of growing outrage.


Namibia’s desert-adapted lions are not a different species but are admired for their acquired knowledge of survival in harsh, unforgiving conditions. They’re a worldwide tourist attraction and are closely monitored by conservationists.

On 12 October a satellite collar on a male lion known as XPL 107 (but affectionately named Mwezi) was tracked from the Palmwag concession area to the Wild Veld Hunting Camp near Khowarib village. There could be only one reason: he had been shot (this was later confirmed by Desert Lion Conservation).

An NGO alerted Izak Smit of Desert Lions Human Relations Aid (DeLHRA) who was then told by a contact in Khowarib that the lion had been seen near the village. He then contacted the gatekeeper at the entry gate to the Palmwag concession, a logical entry point to access the area, who said two people in a government vehicle had escorted a vehicle with a hunting party of five with rifles into the concession. They told him they were ‘policing’. They later returned.



Smit said he “arrived at the conclusion that this Lion had been hunted and shot at the last recorded position in the Skeleton Coast Park or just inside the Palmwag concession area’s Western boundary around mid-day 11th October 2023”.

“[Mwezi] was shot in the Skeleton Coast National Park, which is shocking,” said Smit. “The Ministry used the collar to track the lion to accommodate a hunter. That collar was sponsored by a private organisation to protect the lion and to help prevent conflict situations. It’s like canned hunting because he’s technically captive.”

‘Problem-causing animal’

He sent an email to Kenneth Uiseb, Deputy Director of Wildlife Monitoring and Research at the Ministry of Environment (MEFT), asking if the hunt was legitimate as it was in a protected area and asked for copies of the hunting permit and the report of the official who accompanied the hunters.

The email went unanswered, but instead, the Department issued a Press release seeking to legitimise the hunt, saying the lion was a “problem-causing animal” and destroyed for “persistently killing people’s livestock”. It indicated that the ‘conservation’ hunt raised N$320,000, most of which would be paid ‘to the affected communities’.

According to Smit, those alleged incidents happened a long time before the hunt and cannot be exclusively attributed to him. A month earlier the NGO Desert Lion Conservation had celebrated a mating between the lioness ZPL-108 and Mwezi, described as “one of the most reproductively successful males in the population”.

Its website speculated that “XPL-108 may lead the male XPL-7 to the coast and expose him to the availability of the marine food resources. In fact, after they separated, he searched for her and followed the Uniab River westwards into the Skeleton Coast Park”. That was where he was shot.

Joe Mburu of Preserving Our Animals in the Wild wrote that Namibia has zero respect for wildlife. “Trophy hunting is not a form of conservation, but rather a contributing factor to extinction. In Namibia, there are only 25 desert lions remaining.”

According to a report in Africa Geographic, no designated officials within the relevant conservancies or concession holders were informed that there was a legitimate hunt authorised in the area. “We are also informed that neither the Directorate of Scientific Services at MEFT nor the relevant MEFT lion-conflict manager were informed about the planned hunt.”

Desert lions in Namibia are a unique population that have adapted to the harsh conditions of the Namib Desert. (Photo: Wikimedia Commons)

In its press release, the department rounded on those who reported the hunt, saying “there are individuals and groups that are keen on discrediting Namibia’s conservation methods” and animal rights groups who “continue to spread unfounded rumours aimed at tarnishing the image of our country”.

The lion, said the press release, had killed 14 goats and a Brahman bull and had been collared making it easier for the Ministry to track it. It had been destroyed through ‘conservation hunting’.

Smit wasn’t buying it.

“No evidence was given of the assertion that the lion continued to prey on livestock, causing serious concerns to communities and farmers in the area”.

The press release, he said, seemed to assert that the lion was collared after the incidents to manage the conflict. However, he added, it is well known that this specific lion was collared many years ago.

“The press release also does not explain what is meant by ‘conservation hunting’ and where the [money] from the hunt comes from. I therefore believe … that the so-called conservation hunting was in fact a trophy hunt.”

Smit added that if a problem animal was to be killed, notice of this had by law to first be tabled in the Official Gazette.

“The hunted lion was not declared a problem animal in terms of section 53 of the Nature Conservation Ordinance 4 of 1975 after a proper evaluation clearly required before such declaration can take place. Nor was such declaration published in the Official Gazette as is required. The Ministry therefore was not entitled to treat the lion that was shot and killed as a problem animal. Nor was it entitled to request a fee to be paid.


Undoubtedly aware of the international furore that took place in Zimbabwe on the killing of Cecil the Lion, Ministry public relations officer Romeo Muyunda called on “all tourists, visitors and all Namibians to disregard the advocacy against our country aimed at nothing but discrediting our conservation efforts”.

Smit is sticking to his guns: “I stand convinced that the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism has, in this instance, acted ultra vires and therefore request a full criminal investigation for a contravention of section 27(1) of The Nature Conservation Ordinance 4 of 1975 for the illegal hunting of protected game.”

Desert lions are found in the northwestern part of Namibia, particularly in the Kunene region, which includes the Skeleton Coast. (Photo: Wikimedia commons)

Those that should be charged, says Smit, should be the hunter client of Wild Veld Safaris, Wild Veld Safaris itself and the Minister of Environment, Forestry and Tourism as well as all personnel who facilitated the hunt.

Daily Maverick emailed the chief public relations officer for Namibia’s Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism, Romeo Muyanda asking the following questions:

Did the MEFT issue a Trophy permit for the hunting of XPL 107 and could you supply a copy of it?
It is assumed that the MEFT official who accompanied the hunt wrote a report of the exercise. Could we get sight of the report?
Would it be possible to see a copy of the ZPL107’s logged positions in the month prior to and up to the hunt?
Could you supply incidence reports of conflict episodes that XPL107 may have been involved in that led to his elimination?
At the time of going to print (three weeks after the request) Mr Romeo had not replied. When we approached the hunting outfit showing them Smit’s findings and asking for comment, Mark Misner of Wild Veld Hunting replied: “As a legitimate investigative reporter for the Daily Maverick, I feel confident you realise without a signed and witnessed Affidavit we are unable to respond.” DM

https://africageographic.com/s...8QR8ac_iQprVdim52bWM


More about the hunt.

Poor Weezy

Great another bad lion hunt.

Nothing wrong with this hunt that I can see - just a bunch of agenda-driven and technicality-based objections from anti-hunters.

These people are opposed to any kind of hunting at all and are utterly insincere, IMHO.

When it comes to hunting a livestock-killing problem lion in Namibia, there are and should be very few rules.

I would take anything that Don Pinnock writes with a huge grain of salt. He's blindly anti-hunting and will jump on anything that has any connection to hunting, ethical, legal, or not, and twist things around to make the hunter look bad.

quote:

Originally posted by jvw375:
I would take anything that Don Pinnock writes with a huge grain of salt. He's blindly anti-hunting and will jump on anything that has any connection to hunting, ethical, legal, or not, and twist things around to make the hunter look bad.

I agree and have been following the Desert Lion projects and would have to say the Wildlife Department is more interested in making money than helping this population and those who struggle to protect a fragile ecosystem.

I have been in Palmwag a number of times including in July of this year.

I don't remember anything being trumpeted a few years ago when Himba cattle herders poisoned 10 lion at Puros, just north of Palmwag.

I have to say that in July the prolonged drought has taken a terrible toll of the game - it hadn't rained there for 9 years.

Difficult one this and a gift to the antis. Sounds like the collar was used to locate the lion. Not a good look. Was the big money talking?Shooting the top breeding male in such a tiny population means all his young cubs and the cubs of his pregnant lionesses are doomed.
On the other hand I have never been very tolerant of anything, animal or human, killing my stock. Something had to be done. If he hadn't been shot the locals might have poisoned the whole lot.
If we are all as concerned with conservation as our hunting perhaps a compensation scheme for livestock killed would be good publicity. Yes, of course it would be abused and corrupt. Perhaps the hunter involved would be the first to contribute?
Legal or not, ethical or not, this hunt was another nail in our African hunting's coffin.

What a load of codswalop!

Collared animals are tracked to see where they go.

There is no reason they could hunted.

Personally I have said before that I would not shoot a collared animal.

Those stupid organizations with HUMANE in their names tell me they are as inhumane as possibly can!

The collaring of animals is for research purposes only; it should not be taken as a measure of protection from being hunted and
if that animal strays to unprotected areas and gets killed, should simply show as such in the research database without creating a saga over its killing because it was wearing a collar.

The hue & cry is there anyway, with or without collar.

quote:

Originally posted by fulvio:
The collaring of animals is for research purposes only; it should not be taken as a measure of protection from being hunted and
if that animal strays to unprotected areas and gets killed, should simply show as such in the research database without creating a saga over its killing because it was wearing a collar.

The hue & cry is there anyway, with or without collar.

I agree, but the collar should also not be used to locate the animal to hunt it.
Hunting inside a national park would be a flag for me, but I think in Namibia that's sometimes allowed. I remember a rhino hunt inside a national park as well?
Another flag, for me, would be to shoot a problem animal as trophy. That's not legal in most countries, but again, I think in Namibia it is.
This will blow over quite quietly though, people aren't interested anymore in yet another lionhunting story.

Reading the Africa geographic article. It appears they were using the GPS collar to “hunt” the lion, that was a “problem” but never list as problem. The real problem was they wanted the $60k USD and be dammed the rules. I suspect, if the hunter is a USA citizen, he will be getting a call from the DOJ.

So they are complaining that the folks who got hold of the GPS data was illegal for them to do and no problems with the hunt. Sorry, the GPS does not lie. The interpretation of the data is another story. Have you read the affidavit by the complainant that was filed? Have you read the Wildvelds website? Read below.

The Allegation below:

I, Izak Schalk Willem Smit am a white male 65 years of age and a permanent resident of Namibia through marriage, South African ID Number 5801135012082 residing at 1 Kunenestreet, Kramersdorf, Swakopmund, cellular phone number 0816094460.

I am the chairperson of a Voluntary Association Desert Lions Human Relations Aid (DeLHRA) based in Swakopmund. DeLHRA has Memorandum of Understandings with the Torra, Anabeb and Sesfontein Conservancies aiding them with the mitigation and management of Human Lion Conflict experienced in their conservancies as recorded in our organisation’s constitution as well as the conservation of the Desert Adapted Lions in the Kunene region.
On the 12th October I received information from the CEO of an NGO, some-one I can only identify and who will be willing to testify if protected under section 185 of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977, that the Lion with a Satellite collar monitored by them known as XPL 107 named “Mwezi” by the researcher Dr Philip Stander of the Desert Lion Conservation Trust, seemed to have been transported from his resting place in the Skeleton Coast Park about four kilometres in from the Palmwag concession area in the Uniab riverbed to the Wild Veld Hunting camp in the Khowarib village area as indicated by the satellite collar. According to my source this movement seemed to indicate that the Lion may have been shot or darted to transport it.
Upon my investigation on the 12th of October, I received a telephonic report from a collaborator in the Khowarib village in Anabeb conservancy pertaining to the presence of a Lion very near the village the previous early evening. The informant is on voice recording but requested to remain anonymous out of fear of retribution should he be named. Our informers and key witnesses are willing to testify if protected under section 185 of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977 as retribution and victimization is feared.
The informant reported that the Lion Rangers in the village told him that they got notification through the “early response system” sending them sms’s in the early evening on the 11th October, that a Lion was lurking near the village and they had to respond. He was later told that the signals received came from a collar fitted to a dead Lion in the Wild Veld Safaris hunting camp near the village where a Lion that had been shot earlier that day had been brought to.
We acted on the information as we were aware that a Lion known as XPL 107 and named “Mwezi” by the Desert Lion Conservation Trust, was being observed in a publication by the Desert Lion Conservation Trust’s Dr Philip Stander on his website on the 9th of October stating that the Lion had been mating with a Lioness known as XPL 108, following her around.
We made enquiries as to whether any Trophy Hunting of Lions or culling of problem causing Lions had been in progress in the conservancies. This was denied by the Conservancies but led us to the gatekeeper at the entry gate to Palmwag concession near the Aub canyon as a logical entry point to access the Lion in question. Upon our enquiries the manager of the Palmwag Gondwana lodge, Simon Andreas reported back in the form of a recorded interview with “Esau” the gatekeeper.
In the recording Esau says that a vehicle of the Ministry of Environment Forestry and Tourism with two personnel escorting a hunting vehicle with a hunting party of five people and a rifle had entered the concession area stating that they were there for “policing”. The recording submitted herewith speaks for it-self but we clearly understood that Esau asked as to why they entered with a fire-arm. He also states that they returned later. From this information and that of the CEO of the NGO to be named, we arrived at the conclusion that this Lion had been hunted and shot at the last recorded position in the Skeleton Coast Park or just inside the Palmwag concession area’s Western boundary around mid-day 11th October 2023.
I immediately sent an email to Mr Kenneth Uiseb of the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism, attached hereto as IS-A, to enquire as to the legitimacy of the hunt as it was conducted by a private hunting organization in a protected area or Park and this while the relevant conservancy, Torra, had, according to the answer given upon my enquiry by their treasurer, Emil Roman, not been consulted or advised about such a hunt. Upon enquiry the General Manager of Gondwana Palmwag Lodge said that they, as concession holder and custodian of the area and wildlife in it, had also not been advised of such a hunt by any-one before-hand. He said that he consequently took it up with his head office.
My letter to the MEFT remained unanswered. To the best of my knowledge and given the circumstances, Trophy Hunts in Protected Areas such as Palmwag concession area, under custodianship or in the Skeleton Coast has been unheard of up to now and I do believe that this hunt may have been conducted illegally. Protocol, Conservancy rules and the Official MEFT Policy dictates that the Field Officer of conservancies in which hunts are conducted should be present which does not seem to have been the case in this instance. A Hunting permit was also not presented to the gatekeeper at Palmwag gate nor was an explanation offered as to the real reason for entering the gate.
On 18 October 2023 a press release attached hereto as IS-B was issued by the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism. Not only does it contain a concession that the information alluded to hereinbefore was correct and that the aforesaid lion was in fact hunted but it also contains several factual allegations that seems unsubstantiated, mentions nothing about a probable trophy hunt and as I will attempt to show hereinunder misconstrues the legal position and applicable legal provisions contained in the Nature Conservation Ordinance 4 of 1975 as amended and the Regulations issued thereunder. It also wrongly appears to accept that the Revised National Policy on Human Wildlife Conflict Management supersedes or overrides specific provisions of the applicable legislation.
Although there are in my opinion several unsubstantiated allegations made in the Press Release, I wish to quote and address only a few. The parts I consider important to the merits of this matter are:
11.1 “Recently, on the 10th October 2023 in the Palmwag area, Kunene Region a male lion seven or eight years old was declared as a problem causing animal and destroyed for persistently killing people’s livestock as per the provisions of our laws and policies.”

11.2 “The lion caught and killed fourteen goats in July this year before it killed a brahman bull in the area of Plamfontein. This lion was collared making it easier for the Ministry and the conservancies to monitor its movement. To this effect, various mitigation measures and interventions were put in place by the Lion Rangers to manage the conflict but to no success. Even with the presence of game in the area, the lion continued to prey on livestock, causing serious concerns to communities and farmers in the area.”

11.3 “The lion was declared as a problem causing animal and destroyed through conservation hunting. N$20,000 from the hunt will be deposited in the Game Product Trust Fund to be used for wildlife conservation and human wildlife conflict management. A total of N$300,000 will be paid to the affected communities through Ehirovipuka and Khoadi Hoas Conservancies, to be used for conservation as well as social and economic upliftment of the communities.”

I wish to state that although the general allegation is made in the press release that the aforesaid lion was declared a “problem causing animal and destroyed for persistently killing people’s livestock” only two incidents, both apparently in July 2023 are mentioned. There is also no evidence referred to for the following general allegation made in the press release: “Even with the presence of game in the area, the lion continued to prey on livestock, causing serious concerns to communities and farmers in the area.”
The press release also does not indicate when, and by whom, the aforesaid declaration to declare the animal as a ‘problem causing animal’ was made.
Furthermore, the press release also seems to assert that the aforesaid lion was collared after the incidents in July 2023, to manage the conflict where it is well known that this specific lion was collared many years ago and as recently as two years ago was given a new collar. Dr Stander was thus monitoring this specific animal long before the alleged incidents of July mentioned in the press release.
The press release also does not explain what is meant by “conservation hunting” and where the “N$20,000 from the hunt” comes from. I therefore believe and concluded that the so-called conservation hunting was in fact a trophy hunt.
As there is a well-known history in Namibia of allegedly problem causing animals being made available for trophy hunting I will in short refer to the relevant legal provisions that apply.
It is trite that a Lion (Panthera Leo) is listed in Schedule 4 of the Nature Conservation Ordinance 4 of 1975, hereinafter referred to as the Ordinance, as protected game. The hunting of protected game is regulated by section 27 of the Ordinance. Section 27(1) states that ‘no person other than the lawful holder of a permit granted by the Minister of Environment and Tourism shall at any time hunt any protected game. Section 27(2) provides that a permit granted in terms of this section authorises the lawful holder thereof subject to the conditions, requirements and restrictions imposed by or under this Ordinance to hunt the number and species of protected game mentioned therein at the time and place mentioned therein. Section 27(3) provides that any person who contravenes or fails to comply with any provision of subsection (1) or any condition, requirement or restriction of a permit granted in terms of this section, shall be guilty of an offence, and liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding R4 000 or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding four years or to both such fine and such imprisonment. Section 26(6) provides that any person who hunts protected game under a permit granted in terms of this section, shall at all times have such permit in his possession while he is so hunting. Section 27(7) requires the hunter to complete the permit before he leaves the farm or land on which he has hunted such protected game.
The press release is silent on whether a permit was issued in terms of section 27 of the Ordinance at all and to whom it was issued.
It needs to be mentioned that the Ordinance does not provide for a “problem causing animal” and for declaring an animal as such. The Ordinance only provides for a problem animal and in its definition, part defines a “problem animal” as “any animal declared a problem animal in terms of section 53.”
Section 53 reads as follows:
53(1) The Minister may declare any wild animal a problem animal throughout Namibia or within such part or parts of Namibia as it may in its discretion determine.

53(2) Whenever the Minister declares any wild animal a problem animal in terms of the provisions of subsection (1), the name of such wild animal and a definition of the part or parts of Namibia within which such wild animal is declared a problem animal shall be made known by notice in the Official Gazette.

What is quite clear from the aforesaid section is that the Minister must declare the animal a problem animal and that such declaration must be published as a notice in the Official Gazette. No mention of this or a declaration as a problem animal in terms of section 53 of the Ordinance is made in the press release. No statutory provision is mentioned in terms of which the Ministry alleges it was entitled to declare the lion as a problem causing animal and which empowered them to have it hunted for that reason. It seems as if the term “problem causing animal” was coined and used to bypass the mandatory provisions of section 53 of the Ordinance without any legislative provision authorising such term and procedure used in this case. It needs to be understood that without the lion being declared and published as being a problem animal the complementing section 54 of the Ordinance that provides for the hunting of such problem animal finds no application.
Section 54 of the Ordinance reads as follows:
54 Hunting of problem animals​
(1) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Ordinance contained but subject to the provisions of this Chapter, the owner or lessee of land may-

(a) at any time hunt any problem animal found on such land;

(b) engage or request any other person at any time to hunt, or assist in the hunting of, any problem animal found on such land as long as such problem animal is on such land.

(2) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Ordinance contained, any nature conservator, or any other person authorised or instructed thereto by the Minister, may at any time hunt any problem animal and for that purpose such nature conservator or other person may enter upon any land without the consent of the owner or lessee thereof: Provided that whenever possible notice of such person’s presence on such land shall be given to the occupier thereof or any other person apparently in charge thereof.

As there was no formal and proper declaration and publication of the hunted lion as a problem animal in terms of section 53 of the Ordinance the owner or lessee of the land was not allowed in terms of the Ordinance to hunt the animal while it was on such land or to engage or request any other person at any time to hunt, or assist in the hunting of, any problem animal found on such land as long as such problem animal is on such land. Nor does section 54(2) of the Ordinance find application in this matter.
Furthermore, the Regulations Relating to Nature Conservation issued under the Ordinance in regulation 115 contains specific provisions relating to Trophy Hunting, trophy permits and permit fees. It is issued to professional hunters, master hunting guides or hunting guides who applied for it in writing an area or farm they are authorised for. No permit fees may be charged in respect of problem animals in terms of regulation 115(2) and such permits are not transferable.
In the absence of a publication of the fact that the aforesaid animal was allegedly declared a problem animal as is required it seems highly suspicious that such hunters were aware of such declaration able to apply for such trophy hunting and paid a fee that was not supposed to be charged. The intention of the legislature in the presently applicable laws is clear. A problem animal will be put down with dispatch once declared and published as such and after a proper evaluation and a properly exercised discretion by the Minister.
It is abundantly clear that the hunted lion was not declared a problem animal in terms of section 53 of the Nature Conservation Ordinance 4 of 1975 after a proper evaluation clearly required before such declaration can take place. Nor was such declaration published in the official gazette as is required. The Ministry therefore was not entitled to treat the lion that was shot and killed as a problem animal. Nor was it entitled to request a fee to be paid.
I stand convinced that the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism has, in this instance, acted ultra vires and therefore request a full criminal investigation for a contravention of section 27(1) of The Nature Conservation Ordinance 4 of 1975 for the illegal hunting of protected game. Alternatively Hunting of protected game contrary to the conditions, requirements and restrictions imposed by or under this Ordinance or at the time and location mentioned in such permit. Alternatively, Hunting a Protected Species without a valid Permit in a Protected Area or Park
The persons that whom I believe might have been involved in this illegal hunt or facilitated such illegal hunting are to the best of my knowledge the hunter client of the Hunting Organisation Wild Veld Safaris, Wild Veld Safaris and the Minister of Environment, Forestry and Tourism as represented by Mr Viva Tjivikua of Grootberg MEFT office and all personnel present facilitating this hunt.
The content of this affidavit is the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

I have no objection to taking the Oath.

I consider the Oath to be binding on my conscience.

Signed at Swakopmund on this …………………………………….day of October 2023.___________________

Izak Schalk Willem Smit

Wildveld's response below:

Urgent Announcement​
Date: 01 January 2024
Subject: Closure of WildVeld Safaris Pty Ltd
Distribution: WildVeld Partner Conservancies

As most of you are aware by now, WildVeld Safaris and Mark Misner have been falsely implicated in a MEFT cull hunt that took place in October of this year. Unfounded accusations, leveled by Mr. Isak Smit of the Voluntary Association Desert Lions Human Relations Aid (DeLHRA) through social media, have led to the defamation of our good works and relationships with our partner communities. These misguided and misinformed anti-hunting activists have made it impossible for WVS to continue the funding of our conservation work in the Kunene. It is with great sadness that we have been forced to end our eight-year and multimillion-dollar investment in wildlife conservation for the benefit of our partner Conservancies.

We have made our final monthly conservation payments to our partner communities and will retrench our staff and cease all operations. For those of you who are losing their jobs, we are truly grateful for all of your tireless dedication to wildlife conservation, and we are devastated that we are parting ways. We live in an unfortunate time where negative social media attacks instantly lead to defamation and destruction. Across Africa, uninformed and misguided activists are causing great harm to conservation efforts, and unless we all stand up against them, this will continue.

To this end, we will fight for the truth and restore the reputations of MEFT, the conservancies, and NGOs who are making a difference in Namibia to protect ALL wildlife, as well as Namibia’s rural culture. We pray that in our absence, others will fill the void and preserve the legacy we leave behind.

Please share this information with others. We will be addressing Mr. Smit’s accusations through the courts and through social media. Please direct all interested parties to WildVeldSafarisNamibia.com for our side of the story and updates on our response to and action against Mr. Smit.

Thank you for all that you have done for us, and we pray that this unfortunate event does not deter you from your mission and dedication to wildlife conservation!

We Stand Together,

Mark-Misner-Signature-cropped-1-1.png

Mark Misner
Director
WildVeld Safaris Pty Ltd

MEFT response below:


Republic-of-Namibia-Logo.png
REPUBLIC OF NAMIBIA
MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FORESTRY AND TOURISM
Press Release ​
(For Immediate Release) ​
18 October 2023
Editors and Journalists
MALE LION DESTROYED AS PROBLEM CAUSING ANIMAL
The Ministry is concerned to note that there are individuals and groups that are keen on discrediting Namibia’s conservation methods as implemented by the Ministry and its stakeholders. Such people continue to spread unfounded rumors aimed at tarnishing the image of our country with reference to our wildlife management and utilization thereof.
Recently, on the 10th October 2023 in the Palmwag area, Kunene Region a male lion, seven or eight years old, was declared as a problem causing animal and destroyed for persistently killing people’s livestock as per the provisions of our laws and policies. This incident is unfortunately being used by animal right groups to spread advocacy and false assumptions about the Ministry and its ability to manage human wildlife conflict.
The lion caught and killed fourteen goats in July this year before it killed a brahman bull in the area of Plamfontein. This lion was collared making it easier for the Ministry and the conservancies to monitor its movement. To this effect, various mitigation measures and interventions were put in place by the Lion Rangers to manage the conflict but to no success. Even with the presence of game in the area, the lion continued to prey on livestock, causing serious concerns to communities and farmers in the area.
The lion was declared as a problem causing animal, and was destroyed through conservation hunting. N$20,000 from the hunt will be deposited in the Game Product Trust Fund to be used for wildlife conservation and human wildlife conflict management. A total of N$300,000 will be paid to the affected communities through Ehirovipuka and Khoadi Hoas Conservancies, to be used for conservation as well as social and economic upliftment of the communities.
Namibia, has subscribed to conservation methods that are tailor-made to address our situations and benefit our people as per the constitutional provision. These methods have been tried and tested with tangible results in the form of wildlife population growth and recoveries. As a result, cases of human wildlife conflict increased with animals like lions, elephants, and crocodiles being the main culprits as people and wildlife continue to compete for resources and space. Our laws and policies are guided by the principles of balancing the needs of conservation and the rights of the people.
Our conservation successes are aided by the fact that community members have accepted to co-exist with dangerous predators and animals that at times cause damages to their properties and in unfortunate events losses of human lives. On the basis of this, we cannot afford to overlook the plight of the farmers to satisfy the emotions of animal right groups. For as much as we value tourism as an economic sector based on the revenue it generates, as a responsible government we will always put the needs of our people first without compromise or failure.
We would like to bring to the attention of the public and the international community that lions occur across the entire north of Namibia and some parts of the country in the central and southern areas. Our estimated lion population in the country is seven hundred and fifty (750) with four hundred and fifty (450) in Etosha National Park, one hundred and twenty (120) in Kunene Region where this incident occurred and parts of the Erongo Region, sixty (60) in the Khaudum National Park and surrounding areas of the Kavango East Region and Otjozodjupa Region, sixty (60) in the Zambezi Region and about sixty (60) is some commercial farms.
The ability by lions to adapt to living in harsh environments such as deserts, is not genetic but through their knowledge of the terrain, high mobility and physical endurance. The lions that are commonly known as desert adopted are the same species of lions that occurs elsewhere in the country and is scientifically known as ‘Panthera leo’. Strictly speaking the concept of desert lions is a marketing gimmick which has been used to imply endangerment or eminent extinction of these lions. These lions are not at risk of extinction at all, in fact, their numbers have increased to the highest level in at least half a century over which aerial surveys were done or credible estimates were made.
Human Wildlife Conflict is a serious problem that if not addressed appropriately, treated with necessary understanding and respect, and managed effectively, has the potential to reverse our conservation and tourism gains for the country. In this regard the Ministry is continuously engaged in finding lasting solutions to this phenomenon.
We call upon all tourists, visitors, and all Namibians, to disregard the advocacy against our country aimed at nothing but discrediting our conservation efforts. Namibia’s conservation of wildlife is sound but by no means without challenges and the Ministry works hard to address them. Tourists should come and experience the beauty of our country from its amazing landscapes, our diverse cultures, to its abundant wildlife and in this case our free roaming lions on communal land, commercial farms, and National Parks.
Issued by: ​
Romeo Muyunda ​
Chief Public Relations Officer​

Desert Lion news november 2023​

Wednesday 29 November 2023

Trophy hunting of Xpl-107​
The shooting of Xpl-107 was a miscalculated tragedy. DLC has written directly to the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism to enquire about the declaration of Xpl-107 as a problem animal and the subsequent trophy hunting, and we await their answer. The public outcry and criticism of MEFT, on numerous media platforms, has been excessive and over the top. Members of the public somehow acquired raw data (possibly illegally) from the server hosting lions satellite collar and movement data. They then took it upon themselves to “analyse” and attempted to interpret the data to point out wrongdoings by the Government. It was a narrow-minded attempt that was not only unethical, but flawed in its attempt to interpret behaviour and to reconstruct the events that occured. It is a pity that emotions got the better of individuals that give the impression that they care about wildlife & conservation in Namibia.

WildVeld Safaris (PTY) LTD​

For Immediate Release​
On or about October 12, 2023, Mr. Isak Smit of the Voluntary Association Desert Lions Human Relations Aid (DeLHRA) released a document making frivolous and malicious claims that WildVeld Safaris of Namibia, in conjunction with the Ministry of Environment, Forestry, and Tourism (MEFT), engaged in an illegal hunt resulting in the culling of a collared lion. Not only is this allegation incorrect, but it has also caused great harm to an innocent organization, its employees, and the Namibian conservancies named in Mr. Smit’s reckless document.

To correct Mr. Smit’s wild accusations, WildVeld Safaris is a not-for-profit management company working with numerous conservancies in the Kunene Region. Our mission is to assist in the management of sustainable hunting leases for the benefit of our community partners. We help manage the unrightful and legal hunting leases with the government. Additionally, WildVeld Safaris funds and manages a community-based game guard program within our partner communities to reduce illegal poaching and Human-Wildlife Conflict events. To date, we have invested more than N$7.5 million in that effort.

For clarification, we are a management company only. Accordingly, WildVeld Safaris does not conduct hunting activities whatsoever. We do not market or sell hunts to Namibian or foreign clients, we do not collect or handle client payments for hunts, or work or participate with MEFT personnel to cull wildlife. To this point, our personnel were not involved in any way in a MEFT culling hunt, regardless of Mr. Smit’s claims.

Of course, we could have explained all this if only Mr. Smit had bothered to contact us. But instead, he chose to push a false report without validating any facts. We can only surmise that this was intended as a fundraising scheme and to maximize the negative impact on our organization and our partner conservancies. This is not the first time activists have fabricated news for financial gain. Regardless of the motivation, Mr. Smit acted in an unprofessional and negligent manner.

On October 18, 2023, MEFT released a public announcement denouncing Mr. Smit’s story, yet he continued his efforts to disparage our company and damage the reputation of MEFT and Namibia’s rual communities. Mr. Smit and those who have broadcast and passed judgment have done nothing to promote wildlife conservation efforts in Namibia. Instead of celebrating the NGOs, conservancies, and MEFT in their tireless efforts to protect and sustain Namibia’s valuable and vulnerable wildlife, Mr. Smit decided to launch an ill-conceived attack using social media. The damage Mr. Smit and his organization have caused is incalculable at this point in time.

Therefore, we call upon Mr. Smit, his associates, and social media outlets to immediately cease and desist from perpetuating this false story. We also call for Mr. Smit, his associates, and participants to cease and desist from implicating WildVeld Safaris, its employees, and partner conservancies in the MEFT Human-Wildlife Conflict culling hunt. Finally, we demand that Mr. Smit and all media outlets issue an immediate retraction and public apology for his reckless claims.

In closing, while we all pray for Namibia’s wildlife to thrive, launching social media attacks without the facts is careless and counterproductive. We hope that the next steps taken will lessen the damage that Mr. Smit and his organization have caused and restore the reputations of those whom he needlessly attacked.

For more information regarding this matter, please contact Mr. Romeo Muyunda, the Chief Public Relations Officer at MEFT.

WildVeld Safaris (PTY) LTD • Klein Windhoek • Namibia
WildVeldSafaris.com

Saeed,
This message from Mark Misner, Director WildVeld Safaris Pty Ltd: He said that he tried to sign up on AR but that both he and his general manager were unable. They attempted several times to contact you but never received a response.

quote:

Originally posted by ledvm:
Saeed,
This message from Mark Misner, Director WildVeld Safaris Pty Ltd: He said that he tried to sign up on AR but that both he and his general manager were unable. They attempted several times to contact you but never received a response.

Lane,

The problem is at their ends.

Applicants are automatically approved daily.

Once approved, they get an email to confirm their email address.

Once that is done they are members.

Problems occur because they do not receive our emails because they get thrown in teh spam filter by their ISPs.

Without confirming their email address, they cannot get in.

This is the ONLY requirement we ask for here.

Nothing else.

WE do NOT sell or share emails of our members.

It is done solely to give them their log in details if they forget it.

You can give me their preferred log in IDs in a PM - and I will happily register them.

They still need to confirm their email addresses though.

Thank you kindly Saeed. I will relay the message.

quote:

Originally posted by Wesheltonj:
WildVeld Safaris (PTY) LTD​

For Immediate Release​
On or about October 12, 2023, Mr. Isak Smit of the Voluntary Association Desert Lions Human Relations Aid (DeLHRA) released a document making frivolous and malicious claims that WildVeld Safaris of Namibia, in conjunction with the Ministry of Environment, Forestry, and Tourism (MEFT), engaged in an illegal hunt resulting in the culling of a collared lion. Not only is this allegation incorrect, but it has also caused great harm to an innocent organization, its employees, and the Namibian conservancies named in Mr. Smit’s reckless document.

To correct Mr. Smit’s wild accusations, WildVeld Safaris is a not-for-profit management company working with numerous conservancies in the Kunene Region. Our mission is to assist in the management of sustainable hunting leases for the benefit of our community partners. We help manage the unrightful and legal hunting leases with the government. Additionally, WildVeld Safaris funds and manages a community-based game guard program within our partner communities to reduce illegal poaching and Human-Wildlife Conflict events. To date, we have invested more than N$7.5 million in that effort.

For clarification, we are a management company only. Accordingly, WildVeld Safaris does not conduct hunting activities whatsoever. We do not market or sell hunts to Namibian or foreign clients, we do not collect or handle client payments for hunts, or work or participate with MEFT personnel to cull wildlife. To this point, our personnel were not involved in any way in a MEFT culling hunt, regardless of Mr. Smit’s claims.

Of course, we could have explained all this if only Mr. Smit had bothered to contact us. But instead, he chose to push a false report without validating any facts. We can only surmise that this was intended as a fundraising scheme and to maximize the negative impact on our organization and our partner conservancies. This is not the first time activists have fabricated news for financial gain. Regardless of the motivation, Mr. Smit acted in an unprofessional and negligent manner.

On October 18, 2023, MEFT released a public announcement denouncing Mr. Smit’s story, yet he continued his efforts to disparage our company and damage the reputation of MEFT and Namibia’s rual communities. Mr. Smit and those who have broadcast and passed judgment have done nothing to promote wildlife conservation efforts in Namibia. Instead of celebrating the NGOs, conservancies, and MEFT in their tireless efforts to protect and sustain Namibia’s valuable and vulnerable wildlife, Mr. Smit decided to launch an ill-conceived attack using social media. The damage Mr. Smit and his organization have caused is incalculable at this point in time.

Therefore, we call upon Mr. Smit, his associates, and social media outlets to immediately cease and desist from perpetuating this false story. We also call for Mr. Smit, his associates, and participants to cease and desist from implicating WildVeld Safaris, its employees, and partner conservancies in the MEFT Human-Wildlife Conflict culling hunt. Finally, we demand that Mr. Smit and all media outlets issue an immediate retraction and public apology for his reckless claims.

In closing, while we all pray for Namibia’s wildlife to thrive, launching social media attacks without the facts is careless and counterproductive. We hope that the next steps taken will lessen the damage that Mr. Smit and his organization have caused and restore the reputations of those whom he needlessly attacked.

For more information regarding this matter, please contact Mr. Romeo Muyunda, the Chief Public Relations Officer at MEFT.

WildVeld Safaris (PTY) LTD • Klein Windhoek • Namibia
WildVeldSafaris.com

Do you call on a Cease and Desist on a public forum?