'Unsustainable tourism threatens Hoanib's lions'
Stander reacts to fatal night
Lion researcher Dr Philip Stander of the Desert Lion Conservation Trust believes that unsustainable tourism activities are currently prevalent in the Hoanib River, threatening the survival of the desert-adapted lions.“The number of vehicles that viewed or sometimes even surrounded lions varied between two and 12 vehicles. The average distance measured between lioness Xpl-114 and the nearest vehicle was a worrying 10.6 metres (with 50 m being the minimum distance a vehicle is allowed to approach a lion),” Stander wrote on the Trust’s website.
This follows the fateful night of 30 May when Bernd Kebbel, the well-known businessman and supporter of desert lion research, was fatally attacked by lioness Xpl-114, known as Charlie. South African tourists were also attacked by Charlie early on the morning of 1 June, and she was killed the same day.
Stander has been conducting research on the lion population for over 30 years, with a key focus on measuring the impact of regular tourism on lion behaviour and determining a sustainable level of value for lion sightings that does not negatively affect the animals.
He explains that when the first lodges were built in the Hoanib River, the trust worked closely with tour operators to develop procedures for high-quality sightings that are both safe and sustainable.
According to Stander, over a period of 20 years, nearly 100 comprehensive audiovisual training courses were provided to several hundred guides and tour operators. He collaborated with the lodges, tour operators, and staff from the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism to develop safety protocols for lion viewing.
Disregard
After the Covid-19 pandemic, when tourists returned, refresher courses were offered and the protocols reviewed. However, Stander says that tour guides disregarded these measures.
“Tour guides appeared less respectful, more aggressive in their approach, and less aligned with the mission statements of their employers.”
The lion researcher states that the main tour operators in the Hoanib River all promote strong conservation messages, with marketing materials highlighting their participation in and contributions to wildlife and habitat conservation in their tourism concession areas.
“However, these philosophies did not trickle down to their employees [the guides], who drive paying clients through the landscape to view lions and other wildlife.”
Stander notes that complaints to tour operators continued, and while there was general agreement on the issues raised, no corrective actions were implemented.
“It seemed as if the tour guides had become rogue and ignored their employers’ instructions and requests. Day after day, the lioness found herself surrounded by game drive vehicles that gradually encroached on her.”
According to Stander, this persistent behaviour caused the lioness to lose all of her natural fear and respect for vehicles and people.
Negative effect
His preliminary analysis of hunting success indicates that the presence of tourist vehicles negatively affected the lioness’s daily hunting success.
He reports that on 24 occasions when Xpl-114 attempted to hunt with more than four tourist vehicles present, every one of those hunts was disturbed and spoiled by the vehicles.
“Wildlife and potential prey (gemsbok, springbok, and ostrich) are only present in the Hoanib Riverbed during daylight hours.
“With tourist vehicles surrounding the lioness every morning and afternoon, it is to be expected that her hunting success would be compromised,” explains Stander.
“On the fateful night, Xpl-114 was lying next to the vehicles and the smouldering fire. Although she was thin and hungry, the events that followed were within the bounds of normal lion behaviour and hunting opportunism.”
Watch the Trust’s video at: https://q.my.na/I3KX.
The lion researcher confirmed that several incidents were reported in May in which the lioness approached vehicles and campsites. – [email protected]