Over the past month staff from Namibia’s Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism (MEFT), in partnership with the Lion Rangers, have been partnering on an intensive kraal-building program in the Anabeb Conservancy farming areas of Okomimuno and Etundu Rohaa. Predator-proof kraals, which have been shown to dramatically limit livestock losses to lions and other predators, are an important part of our Early-Warning System. When all else fails, when geofence alerts do not reach farmers due to lack of network, and Rapid Response Teams are deployed elsewhere, farmers in hotspot areas can rely on sturdy kraals to keep their livestock safe. Since early 2021, MEFT, the Lion Rangers, and program partners, have built 97 predator-proof kraals across core lion-range.

From early April, staff have been constructing 19 predator-proof kraals. These are being focused on human-lion conflict hotspot areas, particularly where multiple groups of lions, such as the Anabeb South, Okomiuno, and Omukutu prides frequent. For even the most dedicated Rangers it can be a challenge to keep track of so many lions, particularly when faced by widespread prey movements due to changing rainfall patterns. We thank MEFT for its active initiative in getting these kraals built and for availing staff time and running costs. Thanks to the Community Conservation Fund of Namibia (CCFN) for financial support for kraal-building.