PHOTOGRAPHY FEATURE
To his surprise and immense relief, the pilot of Namibia’s presidential Falcon jet with then president Dr Sam Nujoma on board, responded to the emergency. The pilot initiated a search and rescue operation while calmly talking Philip through the landing. It has been a bumpy, yet fruitful ride that has led to many discoveries in a habitat where one would least expect to find lions. These lions hunt the planet’s tallest mammal, the giraffe, can be seen scaling steep cliffs and climbing to the top of the Damara sequence inselbergs, walk great distances of up to 70 km per day and cross sand dunes in search of gemsbok, ostrich and porcupine. They hunt cooperatively like a team of athletes, each with its own position and well aware of each other’s weaknesses and strengths. The world is intrigued. And if you are too, get your hands on a copy of Vanishing Kings: Lions of the Namib Desert for the whole story with the most stunning photographs, available at Book Den in Windhoek. Cinephiles will be glad to know that Vanishing Kings: Lions of the Namib Desert, produced by Will and Lianne Steenkamp, is a documentary film that premiered in 2015. The documentary proved to be a roaring success. In May 2018 the second part of this conservation story was launched by the same producers who also helped in writing the printed version. TNN
FAST LION FACTS Namibia has a population of ± 800 lion currently, similar to 1965-1980. there are etween 450 and 500 in Etosha National Park. Other populations are in Khaudum and Bwabata National Parks in the north-east, small populations in in Mahango, Mudume and Nkasa Rupara. Over the past 25 years a small population of 20-30 has increased to 140-160 in the Kunene Region, the only significant population outside protected areas. Read the full article about these fast breeders (up to four cubs per female) Lion Conservation and Sustainable Use (Italics) by dr Chris Brown, on the Travel News Namibia website: www.travelnewsnamibia.com/stories/conservation/lion-conservation-and-sustainable-use/
TRAVEL NEWS NAMIBIA SUMMER 2018/19
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