Lion Killed After Killing 18 Livestock - by Helvy Tueumuna


OSHAKATI – A female lion was killed last week after she and other three pride members killed 18 livestock at Okahao.

Recently, four lions escaped from Etosha National Park to Sheyashuushona Conservancy, which borders Etosha on the north-western side.

The lions allegedly killed 12 goats and six sheep at Okatumba Village, within the Sheyashuushona Conservancy at Okahao.

The Chief Control Warden for the Ministry of Environment and Tourism at the Northern Region, Crispin Mkokwena, confirmed the incident.

According to Mkokwena, community members of Okatumba village complained to his office about their livestock having been killed by the lions last Wednesday.

“Our officials went there and observed the lions. They tried to chase them (lions) away from the community, but in the process, one female lion was killed,” said Mkokwena.

Mkokwena said community members further informed the Ministry of Environment and Tourism officials that lions in that area had killed more livestock.

“When we made investigations, we discovered that there was a total of 39 livestock that was killed by the lions,” said Mkokwena.

It is, however, not known if the lions that killed all the animals were from the same pride. Mkokwena said there is a possibility that more lions were coming to that area.

“There could be another pride that knows about Sheyashuushona Conservancy.”

According to him, it is likely that a member of a pride had been coming to Sheyashuushona Conservancy and other pride members have followed him/her.

“And this has been happening on an annual basis.”

Although the lions are likely to return, the pride whose member was killed will not return any time soon as they are now scared.

This is the second incident of lions coming closer to people within two weeks. Recently, Rebbeus Mutilifa from Ondobe village in the Ohangwena Region escaped from the jaws of a lion inside Angola.

Mutilifa and villagers from Okongo followed a lion inside the Angolan border after it ate their livestock at Okongo.

Mutilifa sustained arms and leg injuries. He was rushed to Okongo State Hospital where he was later transferred to Oshakati State Hospital. He has since been recovering at Oshakati State Hospital.

Mkokwena said the incidents at Okongo and Okahao can, however, not be linked. According to him, there could be different reasons that motivate lions to cross the borders into Namibia.

“We don’t know what is happening inside Angola. There could be a lack of wild animals that lions can prey on, it could be human intervention or other environmental issues. We cannot link Etosha to the Angola incident, because we don’t know what is going on there,” said Mkokwena.