Stray lions continue to cause havoc

The wave of lion killing in the north a few months ago was widely condemned by environmentalists and members of the public. The first incidents were first reported in the Ongandjera grazing area where lions wreaked havoc and killed livestock after straying into cattle posts. Farmers were forced to retaliate and protect their livestock from the marauding lions and this resulted in the killing of the big cats. Three more lions were recently killed in the Kunene Region after escaping from Etosha National Park and attacked cattle in that area. Farmers argued they had no choice other than take the law into their own hands. The ministry of environment officials have been accused of doing little to appease the situation. The merciless budget cuts at government agencies and ministries have also been attributed to the lax attitude adopted by conservationists in recent months. Government has reportedly cut back on expenditure when it comes to transport and S&T for game rangers. In some instances it appears that the officials are simply incapable. This newspaper reported a few weeks ago that nature conservation officials left a farm - on which lioness have given birth to cubs - without any solution. According to the farm manager, the environment officials were “afraid to offend” the lioness and its cubs, which had been living on the farm since February this year. Over 20 cows have now been attacked and killed by these lions while the authorities watch on with folded arms. The situation is clearly out of hand and these poor farmers are now forced to simply swallow their losses, which often run into thousands of dollars. The formal means of compensating aggrieved livestock owners does not make sense as government only pays out N$1 500. No wonder the farmers are angry and impatient. The suffering of farmers is being ignored, while even the most ardent conservationists are turning a blind eye to this rampage caused by the marauding predators. If the situation remains unchanged, more human-wildlife conflict will be inevitable and this is not what we want to happen.