A German businessman died in a lion attack at a remote luxury safari lodge in northwestern Namibia early Monday morning.
Bernd Kebbel, 59, was killed when he stepped outside his tent to use the toilet facilities at the Hoanib Skeleton Coast Camp in the Sesfontein area, according to Namibian authorities. The well-known philanthropist and former owner of Off-Road-Centre, which specialised in safari vehicle accessories, was camping with his wife and friends when the attack occurred.
Environment Ministry spokesperson Ndeshipanda Hamunyela confirmed that other campers managed to scare off the lion, but Kebbel had already succumbed to his injuries by the time help arrived.
“Police were attending the scene and a full report will be submitted in due course,” said police spokesperson Elifas Kuwinga, as investigators work to determine the circumstances surrounding the fatal encounter.
The incident occurred in an area known for its desert-adapted lions, a unique population that roams the remote northwest region where the Namib Desert’s mountains and sand dunes converge. These specialised lions have adapted to survive in one of the world’s harshest environments, but their numbers have been declining in recent months.
Wildlife experts estimate the desert lion population at approximately 60 adults and more than a dozen cubs as of 2023, but drought conditions have severely impacted their prey base, leading to increased human-wildlife conflict as the animals venture closer to settlements and tourist facilities in search of food.
The tragedy underscores broader environmental challenges facing Namibia, which authorised the culling of hundreds of animals, including elephants, last August as part of an emergency plan to provide meat for drought-stricken communities.
Kebbel was reportedly a dedicated supporter of wildlife conservation efforts in Namibia, making the circumstances of his death particularly poignant for the local conservation community.
This marks the second fatal lion attack in Africa within six weeks, following the April killing of a 14-year-old girl at a ranch south of Nairobi National Park in Kenya, raising concerns about increasing human-wildlife encounters across the continent.
The Hoanib Skeleton Coast area, despite its remote location, attracts international tourists seeking authentic African wilderness experiences, but the incident serves as a stark reminder of the inherent risks associated with wildlife tourism in natural habitats.
Original story can be found here.
Follow the AkweyaTV channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va7m7dvJuyA7h5XMc22i
