News
The End of a Legend
Sunday 20 August 2023
Honouring a most reliable and functional research vehicle. The Desert lion population lives in an inhospitable area of roughly 50,000km2 that consists of rugged mountains, shifting sand dunes and gravel plains. A reliable research vehicle is without question the most essential and valuable item of the Project. Over the past 35 years the DLCT have had three vehicles that each made significant contributions to the long-term study. ..read more >>
Orphan lionesses return to the coast
Tuesday 15 August 2023
After an absence of over two months, the Orphan lionesses and small female cub returned to utilise marine food items. Night observation were intensified and all food items were recorded. Biological samples were collected from all food they consumed. During several nights the lions were visited by the brown hyaena Xhb-18 “Bonnie”. ..read more >>
Lion Coastal Activities
Thursday 27 April 2023
Several days were spent reconstruction the coastal movements and feeding on marine food items (mainly Cape fur seals) of lions that occurred during recent weeks. Biological samples were collected from the marine food items utilised by lions. ..read more >>
New Research Vehicle – Service, Weighing & Improvements
Wednesday 19 April 2023
The new research vehicle, named “Joey”, spent three weeks in Windhoek for its first major service. Brian Kibble of Safari Engineering and Ultimate Safaris continued their exceptional work on the vehicle and attended to several improvements and repairs. See example of modification design sketch and end result. ..read more >>
Lion Genetics Talk in Swakopmund
Thursday 13 April 2023
On 7 March 2023 William Versfeld, a geneticist based at Ongava Research Centre, gave a detailed presentation on the genetics of lions in northern Namibia ..read more >>
Social media reports of lions near Swakopmund
Tuesday 7 March 2023
During the past 24 hours rumours spread wildly on several social media platforms that three lions (with a collar) were spotted near Mile 14, approximately 20 km north of Swakopmund, and that they were heading towards the municipal area of Swakopmund. Desert Lion Conservation quickly verified that all of the satellite-collared lions were in their usual home ranges to the north of the Ugab River. ..read more >>
Final Torra Bay Update & Summary Conclusions
Sunday 5 February 2023
The Ministry of Environment, Forestry & Tourism (MEFT) and DLCT collaborated during the two-month period (December - January) to monitor the movements and behaviour of the lioness Xpl-108 and to address and prevent any potential incidents of conflict. The activities of the lioness Xpl-108 were documented in detail during 24-hour cycles for 70 days: from 19 Nov 2022 to 28 January 2023. ..read more >>
Torra Bay & Coastal lions Updates (22 -26 Jan '23)
Thursday 2 February 2023
Hoanib Floodplain Pride - The two Orphan lionesses (“Alpha” Xpl-106 & “Bravo” Xpl-109) and the two small cubs were observed hunting wetland birds at Oasis spring ..read more >>
