Cracks in lion early-warning system
Experts say the early-warning system designed to curb human-wildlife conflict should have warned farmers in the Torra Conservancy about the presence of a pride of lions.
The killing of a pregnant and collared lioness in Namibia's Torra Conservancy over the weekend has raised questions over the implementation of an early-warning system designed to prevent livestock killings by the desert-adapted lions in the area.
According to a statement released by the Desert Lions Human Relations Aid (DeLHRA) this week, the farmer who shot the lioness on Saturday near Spaarwater south of Palmwag lion had “acted legally and had no other options”.
DeLHRA stated it was likely a 12-year-old lioness, XPL-67, who formed part of the Achab pride which had been raiding livestock in the area in recent weeks. After she was killed, it was discovered that she was carrying four “well developed foetuses”.
Izak Smit of DeLHRA said it was unclear “why the farmers did not receive an early warning” from the Desert Lion Project, which had collared the lioness in February, or the Northwest Lion Working Group which is tasked to keep a close eye on lion movements and to provide response teams and farmers with information about potential danger hotspots.
“The upgraded kraals seem to work and remain uncompromised, however daytime conflict can only be addressed if positions are known and conflict pre-empted,” DeLHRA's statement stressed.
Smit said according to information on the ground, the pride of lions had “repeatedly raided” livestock hotspots near Spaarwater recently and the farmer in question had already lost 15 goats during that period, including three goats on the morning of the incident which led to the shooting.
“The lions came within 100 metres of the young herdsman who ran for help, necessitating the use of lethal means which were therefore inevitable.”
Smit praised the farmer for showing restraint.
“He could've shot all the lions, but he said he hoped the others would now stay away and would have learnt a lesson.”
He added that the farmer agreed that an early warning could have “prevented this sad incident”.
DeLHRA said the incident raised questions about “what had happened to the promised system as per the new National Human Wildlife Conflict Policy launched by the environment and tourism ministry.”
Improve
Ministry spokesperson Romeo Muyunda on Tuesday confirmed the incident and said the ministry was investigating, but declined to comment on the early-warning system.
Smit said DeLHRA would continue to put in efforts to assist and enable a “proper and effective implementation of the early-warning and response system”, together with the relevant authorities.
The organisation warned the current system was “clearly lacking in its current form given the many unattended incidents recently”.
Similar incidents, where mortalities were prevented by chasing the lions off, had taken place at Elephant Song, Slangpos and the De Rust farm over the past month, Smit said.
He said the fact that these lions had also “somehow slipped past existing early warning systems” showed the “inadequate infrastructure and manpower which urgently needs to be supplemented by more able parties”.
Smit further warned that upgraded kraals protected livestock at night, but daytime raids were increasing.
“We are of the opinion that the lions will adapt since they cannot breach the kraals anymore, and now lie in ambush during daytime. This has not been proven at Spaarwater and the only remedy is a proper early-warning and response system.” Smit said one solution would be to involve more non-profit organisations such as DeLHRA to ensure more effective coverage of a massive area.
“We have proposed a network including local lodges in strategic locations and their guides and vehicles to participate and they are keen. It just needs implementation and control.”
Apart from a more robust 24/7 monitoring and reporting system, Smit says suggestions include geo-fencing, which would ensure that collars send warnings when the lions breach certain areas.
JANA-MARI SMITH
According to a statement released by the Desert Lions Human Relations Aid (DeLHRA) this week, the farmer who shot the lioness on Saturday near Spaarwater south of Palmwag lion had “acted legally and had no other options”.
DeLHRA stated it was likely a 12-year-old lioness, XPL-67, who formed part of the Achab pride which had been raiding livestock in the area in recent weeks. After she was killed, it was discovered that she was carrying four “well developed foetuses”.
Izak Smit of DeLHRA said it was unclear “why the farmers did not receive an early warning” from the Desert Lion Project, which had collared the lioness in February, or the Northwest Lion Working Group which is tasked to keep a close eye on lion movements and to provide response teams and farmers with information about potential danger hotspots.
“The upgraded kraals seem to work and remain uncompromised, however daytime conflict can only be addressed if positions are known and conflict pre-empted,” DeLHRA's statement stressed.
Smit said according to information on the ground, the pride of lions had “repeatedly raided” livestock hotspots near Spaarwater recently and the farmer in question had already lost 15 goats during that period, including three goats on the morning of the incident which led to the shooting.
“The lions came within 100 metres of the young herdsman who ran for help, necessitating the use of lethal means which were therefore inevitable.”
Smit praised the farmer for showing restraint.
“He could've shot all the lions, but he said he hoped the others would now stay away and would have learnt a lesson.”
He added that the farmer agreed that an early warning could have “prevented this sad incident”.
DeLHRA said the incident raised questions about “what had happened to the promised system as per the new National Human Wildlife Conflict Policy launched by the environment and tourism ministry.”
Improve
Ministry spokesperson Romeo Muyunda on Tuesday confirmed the incident and said the ministry was investigating, but declined to comment on the early-warning system.
Smit said DeLHRA would continue to put in efforts to assist and enable a “proper and effective implementation of the early-warning and response system”, together with the relevant authorities.
The organisation warned the current system was “clearly lacking in its current form given the many unattended incidents recently”.
Similar incidents, where mortalities were prevented by chasing the lions off, had taken place at Elephant Song, Slangpos and the De Rust farm over the past month, Smit said.
He said the fact that these lions had also “somehow slipped past existing early warning systems” showed the “inadequate infrastructure and manpower which urgently needs to be supplemented by more able parties”.
Smit further warned that upgraded kraals protected livestock at night, but daytime raids were increasing.
“We are of the opinion that the lions will adapt since they cannot breach the kraals anymore, and now lie in ambush during daytime. This has not been proven at Spaarwater and the only remedy is a proper early-warning and response system.” Smit said one solution would be to involve more non-profit organisations such as DeLHRA to ensure more effective coverage of a massive area.
“We have proposed a network including local lodges in strategic locations and their guides and vehicles to participate and they are keen. It just needs implementation and control.”
Apart from a more robust 24/7 monitoring and reporting system, Smit says suggestions include geo-fencing, which would ensure that collars send warnings when the lions breach certain areas.
JANA-MARI SMITH
Comments
Namibian Sun
No comments have been left on this article