WHO ARE WE?
The Lion Rangers Program works towards the sustainable, community-based conservation of the desert-adapted lions of northwest Namibia. This site details our ongoing research and human-lion conflict mediation, mitigation, and management efforts. It is an online resource for anyone interested in learning more about the Lion Ranger program and its operations, as well as other community-based conservation initiatives in northwest Namibia.
LEADERSHIP TEAM
DR. JOHN HEYDINGER
DIRECTOR, RESEARCHER
A conservation biologist and environmental historian, John performs both community and lion focused research within communal lands in northwest Namibia. He is passionate about unifying locally-centered and evidence-based approaches for lion conservation, and committed to strengthening community-based natural resource management.
MATHILDE BRASSINE
COORDINATOR
Mathilde has worked in tourism and wildlife conservation across Namibia for more than fifteen years. An experienced guide, knowledgeable naturalist, and dynamic manager, she oversees the Lion Ranger Program ensuring Ranger activities, trainings, and equipment meet the needs in the field and securing support for our work.
UAKENDISA MUZUMA
Senior Advisor
With a background in CBNRM and natural resource management, Muzuma serves as Namibia’s CITES Coordinator. In 2020 he joined the Lion Ranger program as Sr. Advisor and is helping steer the program towards more effectively implementing lion population monitoring and human-lion conflict mitigation. From the Ehi-rovipuka Conservancy, Muzuma has extensive on-the-ground and management experience at the human-wildlife nexus in northwest Namibia.
FOUNDING
The Lion Rangers Program was founded in northwest Namibia at the request of the Ministry of Environment, Forestry, and Tourism in late 2017. Dr. Philip Stander, Russell Vinjevold, and John Heydinger under the direction of Uakendisa Muzuma were charged with developing an effective community-based lion conservation program to limit human-lion conflict within communal farming lands and for the conservation of the desert-adapted lion population
