By Xinhua
WINDHOEK, July 4 (Xinhua) -- The Namibian government is taking a proactive stanceto protect and sustain its dwindling lion population in the northwestern part of the country, an official said on Monday.Uakendisa Muzuma, an official with the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism, told Xinhua in an interview that northwestern Namibia's lion population faces threats of human-wildlife conflict and especially drought, leading to a sharp decline in numbers."Population has likely decreased but is stable and healthy," Muzuma added.
Lions are pictured at the Etosha National Park in northern Namibia, Aug. 15, 2022. (Xinhua/Chen Cheng)According
to the Northwest Lion Population Survey conducted between November 2022
and January 2023, the lion population in northwestern Namibia includes
about 35 adult females, 21 adult males and 14 cubs. An additional 400
lions in Namibia's Etosha National Park make up the lion population.
"This translates to an occupancy of 0.2 lions per square kilometer. This is extremely low density," Muzuma said.The
ministry has since taken significant steps to conserve the lion
population through research and monitoring. Under this system, about 70
percent of lions are monitored through collars. "The ministry fitted 45
satellite collars" to give lion rangers, conservancy personnel and
activates early warning, he said.The
ministry has also activated 347 trail motion cameras and undertaken
five deployments, translating to 11,419 camera days and 591 lion images.
A lion is pictured at the Hoanib River drainage in northern Namibia, Feb. 8, 2023. (Xinhua/Chen Cheng)Moreover,
it implements tools such as the Spatial Monitoring and Reporting Tool,
also known as SMART, to track wildlife in remote areas and identify new
lions."Through
this, we monitor wildlife at hotspots and near farms through record
patrol and initiatives tailored to monitor the human-wildlife conflict,"
he said, adding that the ministry also built 97 predator-proof kraals
in partnership with the Kwando Carnivore Project."Since
2018, human-wildlife conflict incidents have reduced by more than 33
percent annually. Complemented by stringent law enforcement, which
resulted in the arrest of six people for illegal lion killing," he said.The
ministry also plans to strengthen capacity-building strategies and
collaboration to protect the southern African nation's wildlife. "The
government continues to invest in conservation efforts, foster
partnerships and promote sustainable tourism practices," he added. ■
