News

6 January Torra Bay & Coastal lions Updates

Friday 6 January 2023

For the third consecutive day – a day characterised by exceptionally strong winds and spectacular cloud formations – the lioness remained hidden in the reeds. At sunset the lioness emerged from the reeds and walked slowly towards the ocean. She reached the beach at 20h00 and headed southwards. ..read more >>

Torra Bay & Coastal lions Updates

Wednesday 4 January 2023

At sunset the lioness Xpl-108 moved directly to the ocean. MEFT and DLCT collaborated in ensuring that anglers had vacated the beaches and the lionesses was allowed to go about her activities without disturbance. She captured a seal during the twilight period and dragged the seal to a nearby reed-bed where she spent the rest of the night. ..read more >>

Torra Bay Updates- 31 12 2022

Saturday 31 December 2022

Strong southwesterly winds persisted and by mid-afternoon it developed into a sandstorm with poor visibility. The lioness Xpl-108 did not visit the ocean but remained on the plains between the dunes and the main road. She only moved 2.9 kms during this period and hunted a small herd of springbok and an ostrich. When the wind speed increased into a sandstorm she found a thick patch of reeds and sedges where she remained hidden from the wind. ..read more >>

Torra Bay update 27 - 31 dec

Saturday 31 December 2022

on 29 dec the Lioneess Xpl-108 roaming in the Torra Bay fishing area moved inland and has since not returned to coast ..read more >>

Torra Bay Updates. 25 & 26 dec

Thursday 29 December 2022

The lioness Xpl-108 spent the entire day/night hunting terrestrial animals in the Uniab Delta area. She attempted several hunts on springboks and ostriches. Whenever she spotted gemsbok, even at distances of >2 kms and especially when juvenile animals were present, she would embark on a long and intensive stalking process. During the night, however, she killed and consumed a smallish animal, most likely a gemsbok calf or a juvenile springbok. ..read more >>

Lioness at Torra Bay

Monday 26 December 2022

The Obab lioness Xpl-108 arrived at the coast on 18 Dec 2022. After killing a large Cape fur seal during the early morning hours of 19 Dec 2022, she proceeded to drag the carcass for a total distance of 4.1km. Across a large salt pan and then to the very top of the white granite ridges close to the main road (see map & images below). There she lay for three days eating her carcass in peace and watching every movement of the angling parties on the beaches. ..read more >>

Floodplain Pride

Monday 26 December 2022

The two Orphan lionesses brought their two small cubs to the coast for the second time. They spent several hours on the beach, but by early morning as vehicle traffic increased, the lionesses dragged the seal carcass across the main road, over a large ridge, and out of view. After the lions consumed the seal carcass and vacated the area, biological samples were collected from the seal remains. ..read more >>

Update on lions and anglers at Torra Bay

Thursday 22 December 2022

After moving inland for 22 days, the Obab lioness Xpl-108 returned to the coast on 18 Dec 2022 (see map). Shortly after nightfall she reached the coastline at point X4 on the map. She caught and consumed a small Cape fur seal pup and continued moving northwards along the beach. She scavenged on a shark that was presumably the by-product of an angler’s catch the previous day, before catching an adult female or sub-adult male seal. ..read more >>