Kunene lions continue rampage

A group of about 15 lions have left a killing field behind in the Kunene Region after they slaughtered more than 230 livestock within one week. In the latest attack 145 sheep and goats were killed on Tuesday night. Eight donkeys also went missing during the week and are now suspected to have been killed by the stray predators. A total of 120 goats and 25 sheep valued at N$186 000 were killed only a few kilometres from the lion attack reported last week Wednesday at Avante Post in the Torra Conservancy. In this attack 86 sheep and goats valued at approximately N$103 000 were killed. According to the chairperson of the Torra Conservancy, Tommy Adams, the Tuesday night attack occurred in the Melkbosrand area a mere five kilometres where the previous attack happened. “It was the same pride of lions. They counted 15 lions and they even saw them jumping out of the kraal with lambs in the mouth,” he said. In both incidents the lions entered the kraals where the animals were being kept for the night. Both kraals were, however, old and not yet upgraded. There are kraals in the area that have already been upgraded and livestock were not attacked in these kraals. The lions are from the Etendeka and Klip Rivier area in Khoadi-//Hôas Conservancy. Adams said they had countless meetings with the environment ministry, warning about the lion problem, but their pleas fell on deaf ears. Izak Smit from the Desert Lions Human Relations Aid (Delphra) yesterday also confirmed the latest lion attack to Namibian Sun. “It is a killing field and farmers feel that the ministry is not upholding its mandate to put collars on the lions and monitor it properly but instead wants to relocate or destroy the animals. “Again we reiterate that if they were collared and monitored this could have been prevented. We have warned against this and hold those we warned responsible. Ignoring our offers and pleas now resulted in this outcome.” Smit said the environment ministry has to take action adding that the communal farmers are at the end of their tether. He argued the cost and effort to dart and capture 15 lions in this terrain is probably equal to the efforts it would take to dart and collar it. Environment ministry spokesperson Romeo Muyunda said they are aware of the latest attack. He said the ministry is still planning to relocate the lions, but that it has now become a matter of urgency. The process will be expedited and officials are already on the ground with the instructions to capture the lions, according to Muyunda. Officials from nearby sub-stations such as Swakopmund have also been called in to assist with the process. “Should those on the ground fail we will send in a helicopter for assistance,” he said. The ministry will shoot the lions as the last option. “The situation has now become urgent and is highly regrettable and unfortunate.” Muyunda further said that investigations into both cases are still ongoing. With regards to why the ministry is not considering collaring the lions, Muyunda said the process is very expensive. “With relocation we are using resources that are already at our disposal. Although collaring is used for monitoring lions in the Kunene, we do not have the resources for collaring all the lion prides in the Kunene.” It is expected that lions will be relocated to a national park in the north-east of Namibia. ELLANIE SMIT

Kunene lions continue rampage

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Namibian Sun 2025-08-19

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Kunene lions continue rampage

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Namibian Sun 2025-08-19

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