Namibia’s Unique Desert Lions Threatened By Drought and Human Conflict

Namibia – Namibia’s unique desert-adapted lions, which eke out a living in the harsh Kunene Region in the country’s north-west, have declined up to 21 percent over the past year due to a drought-induced drop in prey and conflict with humans.

A survey carried out in late 2022 to early 2023 by Namibia’s Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism (MEFT) put numbers of desert-adapted lions at around 57-60 adults and 14 cubs.

Since then, another eight to 12 lions have died – some through conflict…