An adult
lioness (Xpl-17) of the Agab sub-group was selected for the GPS
collar. She is the oldest lioness in the pride and has been the
subject of intensive monitoring since 2001. She was fitted with
a UHF Download GPS collar, programmed to record GPS fixes every
15 minutes during the period of activity (see GPS
collars for details).
Disappointingly
Xpl-17 started killing livestock at Bergsig and was shot on
13 July 2008. She was an important lioness with high reproductive
success. She reproduced five litters, at a mean interval of
two years between litters, and assuming the two 2-year-old
male cubs will survive, Xpl-17 reared eight cubs to adulthood
(see genealogy chart below). The allegations that she was
in a poor condition and were unable to fend for herself, are
incorrect. The photograph below shows good muscle tone and
the series of photographs of her teeth (further down) also
suggest that she was healthy and in good condition.
Muscle
tone and condition at death
Teeth
- 2001
Teeth
- 2004
Teeth
- 2005
Teeth
- 2007
Teeth
at death - 2008
6
Aug
2008:
Shooting of Xpl-17 revisited. It
is necessary to re-evaluate the shooting of Xpl-17 at Bergsig on
14 July 2008 in order to understand why a communal conservancy that
generates significant financial benefits from wildlife and tourism
shot an important breeding lioness. The problem, however, is complex
and needs to be considered sensibly and from different points of
view. We need to learn from the incident and improve our efforts
to ensure the long-term conservation of Desert lions.
The
Bergsig community
The
lioness
Reporting
error - 1
Conflict
between lions and local people is a serious problem. When lions
kill domestic livestock and move close to settlements, as was
the case with Xpl-17, the local people are understandably scared
and angry, and they have the right, by Namibian law, to shoot
the lions in defence of themselves and their livelihood. Lions
cannot be protected or conserved at the cost of the local communities;
it can only be achieved when the benefits that local people
derive from lions, out-way the costs of sharing their land with
lions.
Xpl-17
was an important breeding female in the Desert lion population.
She had two dependant male cubs (2 years old), and a sub-adult
lioness accompanied them during the conflict at Bergsig. They
lived in a prime tourism area and were habituated to vehicles,
which made them important lions for tourism. During the past
three years, Xpl-17 and her offspring where observed regularly
by tourists from Palmwag and Wilderness Safaris Rhino Camp.
Xpl-17 was in excellent physical condition and her dentition
had remarkably little wear. Because of their experience, the
prominent roles they play in the hunting strategies, and their
reproductive success, lionesses, like Xpl-17, are arguably the
most important individuals in the lion population. Due to her
status in the Agab/Uniab Pride, and in the population, an expensive
GPS radio collar was fitted to Xpl-17 in February 2008.
The
individual(s) from the Torra Conservancy that reported the incident
to the Ministry of Environment and Tourism, painted a very different
picture of the problem, when compared to the points that I have
presented here. It was apparently reported that a very old and
emaciated lioness, unable to hunt or fend for herself in the
wild, entered the Bergsig village to kill donkeys, chickens
and dogs, and that the lion is a threat to the people of Bergsig.
Based on this information the Ministry of Environment and Tourism
acted quickly and appropriately by issuing a hunting permit,
and then instructed the local trophy hunting concessionaire
to shoot the problem lion without delay.
Reporting
error - 2
Torra
Conservancy
The
individual(s) from the Torra Conservancy did not share the same
information with me. When I proposed to them to dart the lions
and relocate them back to their normal home range (+- 80 km),
they declined the offer since they had applied to the Ministry
of Environment & Tourism for a trophy hunting permit for
two of the young lions (1 male & 1 female). I explained
the background and importance of Xpl-17 to the Torra Conservancy,
informed them that she carried a GPS collar, and that there
is an agreement among the major conservation bodies in the region
not to hunt lions with GPS collars (there are only 4), and then
asked for their consent to dart and relocate Xpl-17. They agreed,
but on the condition that I have to wait until after the two
lions (re: the hunting permit) had been shot.
The
Torra Conservancy is one of the most successful communal conservancies
in Namibia and it is to be expected that the financial benefits
they receive from tourism and lions are significantly higher
than the financial losses caused by lions.
Concluding
points
1)
Lions are large charismatic predators, they are a threat to
livestock and most people are afraid of them. Even with the
benefits from tourism, local communities cannot be expected
to accept and conserve lions overnight – it is a slow
and involved process.
2) Individuals may not always act in the best interest of the
group, or the Conservancy, in this case.
3) The shooting of Xpl-17 was a mistake because a) she was an
experienced and valuable breeding female, and b) she was an
asset to tour operators like Wilderness Safaris, and therefore
also to the Torra Conservancy.
4) Improved and more regular communication with local communities
and conservancies is needed.
14
July
2008:
Xpl-17 shot. After
all the efforts to solve the Human Lion Conflict incident, consider
the needs and expectations of the Bergsig community, and save the
lioness with a GPS collar (that I have studied and observed for
nine years), Xpl-17 was shot late this afternoon. The three remaining
sub-adult lions are still at large and there is little hope of them
returning to their normal home range without the guidance of Xpl-17.
8-13
July
2008:
Human Lion Conflict at Bergsig. A
group of four lions started killing livestock around Bergsig, Torra
Conservancy, on 1 July 2008. I investigated the problem on 2 &
3 July and found that after killing 3 donkeys, 2 goats and 3 dogs,
the lions had moved off. But on 5 July they returned and continued
killing livestock. I returned to Bergsig on 8 July and spent five
days/nights, with hardly any sleep, trying to solve the problem
and to assist the Bergsig community. To my surprise I discovered
that the lions were from the Agab Pride and that an adult lioness
with a GPS collar was present. I proposed to the Torra Conservancy
that I dart the lions and relocate them back to their normal home
range (+- 80 km). They declined the offer since they had applied
to the Ministry of Environment & Tourism (MET) for a trophy
hunting permit and wanted the lions to be shot. In accordance to
Namibian legislation, MET issued "problem animal" trophy
hunting permits for two lions (1 young male & 1 young female),
and they informed me of the development.
Since there is agreement among the major conservation bodies in
the region that desert lions with GPS collars (there are only 4)
are not to be hunted, I asked the Torra Conservancy to allow me
to dart and relocate Xpl-17. They agreed, but only after two lions
(re: the hunting permit) had been shot. Awaiting the outcome of
the trophy hunting, I am currently monitoring the situation and
have observed Xpl-17 for 42 hours during the last 3 nights (10-12
July).
Known
home range of Xpl-17 prior to fitting the GPS collar
Fitting
of the UHF Download GPS collar
Real-time
animations
The movement patterns of an adult female (Xpl-17) of the Uniab/Obab
Pride are presented below using Flash animations to represent real-time
events. Click on the PLAY button to start the animation.
The timeline is constant at 2.5 seconds per day (24 hrs). When the
red dot moves quickly across the screen, it accurately represents
the speed at which the lion covered vast distances.
Period:
1 - 13 July 2008. Prior to being shot on 13
July 2008.
