Rock n Roll in the desert to keep the lions away

 

The Desert Lion Conservation programme has taken innovative steps to prevent human-lion conflict in the Kunene region and Skeleton Coast of Namibia. When fireworks didn’t seem to do the trick, Dr Stander and his team blared some AC/DC and Deep Purple at 4500 Watts from a hidden area in the vegetation. The unnatural, high pitched sound certainly got the problematic lion moving, and it became obvious that the Terrace Male (Xpl-68) was not a fan, and he swiftly moved away.

This drastic and intrusive measure was taken after the lion has been monitored closely, since he was born in 2007; his movements tracked by Dr Flip Stander and recorded on the Desert Lion website. The Terrace Male has wandered close to the Purros Conservancy on a number of occasions and keeps putting himself in danger of conflict with the people. He is a predator and is attracted to the easily targeted donkeys and cows, which gives the people of Purros a reason to want him dead.

This male is a vital member contributing to the growth of the population of Desert Lions, and it is important that he does not get into conflict with the local people, as he will get killed as they try and protect themselves. Over the last week, the Terrace Male has been darted and relocated by Dr Stander and his Lion Ranger team after he was too close to Purros. Again, he was monitored via his satellite collar as he moved closer, yet again, and the Desert Lion team attempted to scare him away using fireworks. Alas, the lion returned, and this time the use of very loud rock n roll music is what got him running in the opposite direction.

 

 

Below are the updates posted on Desert Lion’s Facebook page, describing the job of tracking and protecting this persistent desert lion:

Xpl-68 was born during Nov 2007 in the Agab River. He moved to the Huab River in 2010/2011. He is best known for his long journeys (during a 40-hour period he covered a distance of 130.7 km in 2012), and famous for his journey into Angola in 2013. Currently he is in danger due to his close proximity to Purros. Fingers crossed that he can be driven away from the settlement.

 

8 Apr 2014. The successful relocation of “Terrace Male”. Transporting the immobilized “Terrace Male” (Xpl-68) in the new Land Cruiser was a great success. The specially designed vehicle with all its extra equipment and the OME suspension made for a smooth and effective operation. The lion was put on a Ringer-lactate drip and his heart rate, respiration and general status were monitored and recorded every 30 minutes. A heart rate monitor, used mainly by athletes, was fitted to the lion and this helped to monitor his status whilst driving through the rough terrain. The Hoaruseb River was reached at daybreak and Xpl-68 was offloaded next to a thick acacia bush and his recovery was monitored. By 07h10 he started walking and at sundown he was resting between granite boulders 1.2 km from the ocean.

 

9 Apr 2014. Lower Hoaruseb River. The Hoaruseb River came down in flood again during the night and it was not possible to cross the river. The “Terrace Male” (Xpl-68) was monitored for another 16 hours and it is pleasing to know that he has recovered fully from the long anaesthetic and the relocation from Purros.

 

14 Apr 2014. Saving “Terrace”. The wanderings of the “Terrace Male” (Xpl-68) across the harshest sections of the northern Namib Desert during the past 2.6 years have been nothing short of remarkable. But, it was his voyage into Angola, where he swam across the Kunene River, that captured the imagination of the public and he has become somewhat of an icon, which has arguably benefited wildlife conservation and tourism in Namibia. Unfortunately, his recent visits to Purros have taken him into harm’s way. Management efforts to deter him from the area failed when he returned to the settlement for the third time two nights ago. With the invaluable support of Wilderness Safaris (Emsie, Gerhard, Bertus & Jannes), the Purros Lion Rangers (Collin, Bertus & Kooti), Purros Conservancy (Hiskia) and Okahirongo Elephant Lodge (Pollen & Pieter) a desperate effort was made today to scare Xpl-68 away from the Purros Settlement using fireworks and flares (see photos below by E Verwey). Due to the extensive rains most of the wildlife have vacated the areas that Xpl-68 utilised during the past 2 years and he has presumably been attracted to Purros because of the donkeys that occupy the river habitat. Hopes are that the disturbance will cause him to leave.

 

 

15 Apr 2014. Desperate Tactics. The use of fireworks and flares to disturb and chase the “Terrace Male” (Xpl-68) away from the problem area north of Purros was only partially successful. It was the use of heavy rock music, especially tracks with a strong high-pitched voice component (such as songs by AC/DC, Deep Purple & Led Zeppelin) played at full volume (±4,500 Watt peak power) through the sound system that caused the lion to vacate the area. Even though care was taken to “hide” the research vehicle behind thick vegetation when the music was played, there is little doubt that the “Terrace Male” will associate the disturbance with the research vehicle. This will limit future opportunities of observing and following the lion. These desperate measures are unfortunately required because if the “Terrace Male” remains in the area he will be shot or poisoned.

 

Shortly, I will be heading out to Damaraland in the company of others involved with TOSCO and Desert Lion sponsorship. I will be lucky enough to spend 3 days on a field trip with Dr Stander and hope to learn everything there is to know about the Desert Lion Conservation Programme. Look out for a first-hand experience article about my time spent with the desert lions.