SAVING NAMIBIA’S UNIQUE DESERT LIONS
strengthening ties between responsible conservation travelers and Namibia’s cultural and natural heritage stakeholders
ATCF CONTRIBUTION: $20,000
GRANT AWARDED: 2019
LOCATION: kunene region, namibia
IMPACT: Witness the regular use of early warning towers and GPS collars in the areas where Human Lion Conflict is prominent to see a reduction in the number of deaths of lions due to conflict with people.
Namibia’s desert lions are the only population of lions in the world outside of a National Park that is increasing in number, but under constant threat, due to human-lion conflict where lions kill local livestock, which are mostly free-range. The project has already devised a unique early warning system that has resulted in a dramatic drop in lion predation on livestock, and retaliatory killing of lions by local communities; the request for funding will allow us to further develop and fully implement the system, which has already shown such strong results in protecting lions, livestock and people.
The ATCF and its members have awarded Conservation Travel Foundation $20,000 to provide long-term protection of an environmental resource, wildland, waterway or threatened species and fight poaching to save Namibia’s unique desert lions.
the issue
Addressing the conflict between people and wildlife requires the striking of a balance between conservation priorities and the needs of the people who share their land with wildlife. Managing human-lion conflict in the arid environment of the Kunene Region is particularly complex as sporadic and variable rainfall patterns that are typical of arid environments result in large overlapping home ranges amongst the lions, and this often leads them to clash with local farmers in search of grazing. However, lions are important to the growing tourism industry in Namibia and there is an urgent need to manage these conflicts.
the goal
The final success story of this project will be the regular use of early warning towers and GPS collars in the areas where Human Lion Conflict is prominent which sees a reduction in the number of deaths of lions due to conflict with people. As a result, value will be added to tourism in the area and the benefits will make local communities proud rather than resentful of the lions’ presence.
the impacts
Erect two early warning towers in hotspot areas
Immobilize six lions and fit them with early warning system GPS collars
Establish early warning systems to allow for rapid response teams to react quickly
Reduce the incidents of Human Lion Conflict by 30% over two years
PROJECT UPDATES
Coming soon…
More about Conservation Travel Foundation
Conservation Travel Foundation focuses on forming and strengthening links between responsible conservation travelers and Namibia’s cultural and natural heritage stakeholders, together we can strive towards preserving them. The link between travel, conservation and sustainable development enhances the experiences of guests by creating more meaningful and authentic cultural encounters through learning, sharing and giving something back.
“Namibia is home to the world’s only population of free-roaming (outside of a National Park) lions that is increasing in number. Albeit a small population, the desert adapted lions of Namibia are a truly unique population of lions, and crucial for lion conservation in Africa. This grant is a giant step towards assisting us in finding a balance between rural human populations living with lions and lions themselves, a delicate balance which requires constant support for man and beast. We are absolutely delighted to partner with the Adventure Travel Conservation Fund in these efforts, efforts which have far reaching benefit for both the people of Namibia and the desert lions.” – Founder of the Conservation Travel Foundation by Ultimate Safaris