News
Torra Bay & Coastal lions Updates
Wednesday 11 January 2023
After spending five days in the reeds at Raleigh spring next to the main road and feeding mainly on juvenile Cape fur seals that she found along the bay in front of the spring, the lioness Xpl-108 paid one last visit to the beach at sundown. With no seals in view, she moved northwards. At the break of dawn she was feeding on a seal pup at the mouth of the Uniab river. This is a favorite fishing spot for Torra Bay visitors and trouble was expected with potential interactions between the lioness and the anglers. Fortunately Peter Sander (acting CEO of DLCT) was here to assist and he visited all the fishing parties and informed them of the situation. ..read more >>
Torra Bay & Coastal lions Updates - 8 jan 2023
Sunday 8 January 2023
The lioness Xpl-108 continued her somewhat unusual routine of resting in the reeds at the spring during the day and going out at night. Sometimes she lay for hours on the bank of the steep drop-off to the beach, staring at the ocean. The availability of young seals on the beach opposite the spring is quite unusual. During the night and at sunrise the lioness roared several times, presumably calling for her sisters. ..read more >>
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 >>
