Lion

Once they roamed large parts of the country, following prey game to summer and winter pastures where the availability of water and grazing was important for the ungulates. But they also stuck to their territories and habitats. Lions (Panthera leo), one of the biggest cats in the kingdom of animalia, can adapt to different habitats, but they must learn to survive by either trial and error or by being taught by adults. Namibia’s lions can be found in the most contrasting environments. There are lions in the lush green Kavango and Zambezi Regions with perennial rivers and high rainfall, in the wide-open plains of Etosha National Park with fountains and artificial water points, plenty of prey animals in a protected area, while others have to survive in the arid area of the Kunene and Erongo Regions with less prey animals, few waterholes and harsh conditions.

Distribution

At the end of 2023 the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism estimated the lion population in Namibia at just over 700. In Etosha National Park around 450 of these large predators are found, over 60 in the Kunene Region as well as in a small part of the Erongo Region, around 60 in the Khaudum National Park and surrounding areas in the Kavango East and Otjozondjupa Region, another 60 in the Zambezi Region and about 60 on some commercial farms.

Social behavior

The lion is the only member of the cat family showcases social behaviour and lives in prides. Under normal conditions there is one to four males in a pride with three to six adult females. Young males are usually pushed out of the pride the moment they become mature while females stay with the pride. Males do hunt but most of the time females hunt cooperatively and the whole pride benefits. If males are pushed out of the pride by new males these occasionally kill all small cubs for the females to come into oestrus, giving them the chance to spread their genes. Males and females defend their territory against other lions and they support each other in various aspects within the pride. During his research on lions in Etosha National Park, world famous researcher Dr. Philip “Flip” Stander found out that a lioness has a certain position during a hunt. This position which according to Dr. Stander could be like in a rugby match either be a left or right wing, full back or fly half, is taught by the mother to her daughter. These lionesses will never be in another position during the hunt.

Food

Lions are not only hunters but scavengers too. In Etosha National Park they have been found feeding on elephant carcasses and a few decades ago lions have been observed feeding on dead whales on the Skeleton Coast. In the Zambezi and Kavango East Region they hunt buffalo and other antelope and occasionally have taken young hippo. In the Etosha National Park their main prey are Burchell’s Zebra, Blue Wildebeest and Springbok but on a few occasions they have killed young rhino and elephant. Dr Stander has once seen lions take out an aardvark in Etosha and in his latest research in the Skeleton Coast Park he has witnessed lions catching young and adult Cape fur seals and cormorants in moonless nights on the beach and in the sea. This behaviour has been taught through adaptation and improvement, according to their area. Further inland in the dry riverbed of the Hoanib and adjacent area, a single lioness is successfully hunting giraffe, oryx antilope and ostrich. These skills she had to learn all by herself and improve them.

Human-Wildlife-Conflict

The ability to learn, to adapt and to try something new has also negative consequences for Namibia’s lions, especially those which move out of National Parks, those living in communal areas and those nomadic young males moving into Namibia from neighbouring countries like Botswana. These lions often come into contact with humans and their domestic animals. The lions learn that these animals are easy prey and are therefore killed in different ways. Often the lions have got no choice because their wild prey has moved off because of drought or people move with their cattle and small stock into game rich areas. If the lion population increases youngsters are pushed out by their prides and they need to find new territories and then come into conflict with humans.

Text and Images by Dirk Heinrich