Killing of lions fires up debate
Farmers adjacent to Etosha National Park may see an increase in lions escaping from the area as there are simply too many for the park to sustain.
Human-wildlife conflict involving lions is expected to increase around the Etosha National Park as the park's carrying capacity has been exceeded.
This is according to environment minister Pohamba Shifeta, who told Namibian Sun that the park's carrying capacity is between 300 and 400 lions, but currently there are about 600.
He says that is one of the main reasons why lions are escaping from Etosha, resulting in increased conflict with farmers in the surrounding area.
Shifeta says this time of the year is particularly problematic, as competition increases in lion prides.
“Those afraid of the more powerful males tend to move out of the park and seek relief.”
Younger males, roughly two years old, have to start leaving the pride in search of their own females as they begin to compete with the alpha males.
Shifeta warns that farmers should keep their livestock in kraals at night. “Once they get the taste of livestock they tend to always go back.”
He says the ministry is struggling to finish the park's elephant-proof fence, which will also prevent other wildlife from leaving the park.
According to him the fence is only 30% completed because of problems with the contractor which did not comply with tender specifications.
“We want to do it professionally.”
Local ecologist Peter Cunningham told Namibian Sun that game counts indicated a few years ago that there were between 250 and 450 lions in Etosha, however he could not confirm the current population.
He says if the carrying capacity is exceeded it would not only cause conflict with farmers but would also have a higher impact on prey species such as wildebeest and eland.
He adds that the social system of lion prides would also be affected, as they are very territorial animals. There would be an excess of males and therefore they would start moving into farming areas, causing human-wildlife conflict.
“You can only have so many lions in an area and as the prey species decrease, more conflict will develop because these lions are competing with other predators as well.”
He says the fact is that the ministry cannot allow these numbers to increase unimpeded in parks - they have to be managed.
According to Cunningham the ministry should determine the exact number of lions and culling the Etosha lions is an option. Alternatively their prey animals can be culled, which would cause the lions to die of hunger. This would be a far slower option and could cause a further escalation in lion escapes from the park.
Another option is to move lions to commercial areas to be used for trophy hunting, resulting in income for the country.
Three lions were shot dead by farmers in the Ongandjera community in the Omusati Region in the past few weeks, with farmers claiming that they had escaped from Etosha.
Shifeta warned that farmers should not put their lives and those of their workers in danger when confronted by a wild animal causing problems.
He said sometimes farmers become “trigger-happy” and are not really threatened by a wild animal, but they shoot the animal anyway because they experienced problems in the past.
Shifeta warned farmers that they should in these cases not shoot, but rather wait for officials from the ministry, adding that the farmers are not professional hunters and that it could be very dangerous.
“This can be life-threatening. Simply because you have guns does not mean you should kill the animal. You are putting lives in danger. Be careful not to take the law into your own hands.”
Shifeta explained that any protected wild animal that becomes a problem animal must first be reported to the ministry.
The African lion is an Appendix One-listed animal on CITES.
Shifeta said such an application will then be approved or disapproved by the ministry. In the application, the area, gender and age of the animal must be stated.
According to Shifeta, if declared a problem animal the ministry will dispatch a team to kill the animal.
However, in the case of immediate threat to life or property the animal can be shot. The person must be able to prove that it was self-defence. If proven otherwise a case of illegal hunting will be made. This counts for both communal and private land.
ELLANIE SMIT
This is according to environment minister Pohamba Shifeta, who told Namibian Sun that the park's carrying capacity is between 300 and 400 lions, but currently there are about 600.
He says that is one of the main reasons why lions are escaping from Etosha, resulting in increased conflict with farmers in the surrounding area.
Shifeta says this time of the year is particularly problematic, as competition increases in lion prides.
“Those afraid of the more powerful males tend to move out of the park and seek relief.”
Younger males, roughly two years old, have to start leaving the pride in search of their own females as they begin to compete with the alpha males.
Shifeta warns that farmers should keep their livestock in kraals at night. “Once they get the taste of livestock they tend to always go back.”
He says the ministry is struggling to finish the park's elephant-proof fence, which will also prevent other wildlife from leaving the park.
According to him the fence is only 30% completed because of problems with the contractor which did not comply with tender specifications.
“We want to do it professionally.”
Local ecologist Peter Cunningham told Namibian Sun that game counts indicated a few years ago that there were between 250 and 450 lions in Etosha, however he could not confirm the current population.
He says if the carrying capacity is exceeded it would not only cause conflict with farmers but would also have a higher impact on prey species such as wildebeest and eland.
He adds that the social system of lion prides would also be affected, as they are very territorial animals. There would be an excess of males and therefore they would start moving into farming areas, causing human-wildlife conflict.
“You can only have so many lions in an area and as the prey species decrease, more conflict will develop because these lions are competing with other predators as well.”
He says the fact is that the ministry cannot allow these numbers to increase unimpeded in parks - they have to be managed.
According to Cunningham the ministry should determine the exact number of lions and culling the Etosha lions is an option. Alternatively their prey animals can be culled, which would cause the lions to die of hunger. This would be a far slower option and could cause a further escalation in lion escapes from the park.
Another option is to move lions to commercial areas to be used for trophy hunting, resulting in income for the country.
Three lions were shot dead by farmers in the Ongandjera community in the Omusati Region in the past few weeks, with farmers claiming that they had escaped from Etosha.
Shifeta warned that farmers should not put their lives and those of their workers in danger when confronted by a wild animal causing problems.
He said sometimes farmers become “trigger-happy” and are not really threatened by a wild animal, but they shoot the animal anyway because they experienced problems in the past.
Shifeta warned farmers that they should in these cases not shoot, but rather wait for officials from the ministry, adding that the farmers are not professional hunters and that it could be very dangerous.
“This can be life-threatening. Simply because you have guns does not mean you should kill the animal. You are putting lives in danger. Be careful not to take the law into your own hands.”
Shifeta explained that any protected wild animal that becomes a problem animal must first be reported to the ministry.
The African lion is an Appendix One-listed animal on CITES.
Shifeta said such an application will then be approved or disapproved by the ministry. In the application, the area, gender and age of the animal must be stated.
According to Shifeta, if declared a problem animal the ministry will dispatch a team to kill the animal.
However, in the case of immediate threat to life or property the animal can be shot. The person must be able to prove that it was self-defence. If proven otherwise a case of illegal hunting will be made. This counts for both communal and private land.
ELLANIE SMIT
Comments
Namibian Sun
No comments have been left on this article