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Namibia: Relocate, Don't Shoot - Three Etosha Lions Get a Second Chance
By Nico Smit, 5 April 2012


THE Okorusu AfriCat Communal Carnivore Conservation Unit (CCCP) recently subdued and relocated three male lions from a farm just north of the Etosha National Park to a location in the western part of the park.

While Namibians around the country and across the world were celebrating the country's 22nd year of independence, AfriCat and Etosha's collaborative transboundary lion research project gained momentum as it immobilised and relocated three young adult male lions on March 21.

According to a statement released by Africat North, the three lions were spotted by a farmer on a cattle and game farm bordering the northern perimeter of the Etosha National Park. The lions, it appeared, had killed one or more of the farmer's livestock.

Human-wildlife conflict is an ever-present issue along the borders of the Etosha National Park, which results in the destruction and loss of livestock and lions on an annual basis.

AfriCat, through the support of the Okorusu Flourspar mine, recently developed the CCCP with the objective of establishing a unit able to react to calls from farmers, especially those from communal and freehold farms bordering Etosha, to help develop and implement workable livestock protection methods.

The Etosha Transboundary Lion Project's objective is to monitor the movement of lions along the park's borders, and more specifically the frequency of these animals crossing into farmland.

The project also aims to establish whether or not these lions establish viable populations outside the park, and identifies specific weak points in the park's boundary fence.

By 14h00 on Independence Day, the Okorusu - AfriCat CCCP unit had found the bare cow carcass which the three lions had devoured, and added more meat and some entrails to the carcass to attract the lions. At about 20h15 the three lions returned to the carcass and roughly two hours later, at 22h00, all three of the young adult male lions were tranquillised.

Over a period of three hours the CCCP unit, consisting of AfriCat foundation director Tammy Hoth, Sydney Dirsuwei, AfriCat assistant, accompanied by an Etosha National Park veterinarian and a warden, examined the three animals.

This included taking blood samples, collecting hair and whiskers as well as fitting VHF radio transmitter collars to each of the lions.

Once this was completed the lions were loaded into vehicles to be transported, and at approximately midnight the immobilised animals were offloaded at Duineveld. This is one of the waterholes in western Etosha which is located furthest from the farm where the lions were found along the park's southern boundary.

After the animals were offloaded and their vital signs checked, the tranquilliser reversal was administered and by 01h00 on March 22 the three lions had regrouped, bonded and walked off into the night.

The three lions will be monitored using the VHF transmitters, either from a vehicle or from a light aircraft.