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Chris Packham Photographs for Sale
Chris Packham Patron of AfriCat took some amazing images of leopards, cheetah and lions while visiting Namibia. Chris has kindly let AfriCat UK have some of these to sell to raise funds These have been mounted and are available to buy.
To see all the prints and details of how to buy follow this link.
World Lion Day 10th August 2024
Do you think there are more lions than rhino living wild in Africa? The answer may surprise you!
Lions – The latest assessment of lion according to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) was that there were around 23,000 (sub-adult and adult lions)
Rhino – The latest assessment of rhino according to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) puts the numbers of white rhino at 18,064 and 5,630 Black Rhino making a total of 23,694.
Therefore, probably there are more rhino than lions in Africa: work needs to continue to reduce the declines and start to see numbers increase.
World Lion Day August 10th 2024
Do you think there are more lions than rhino living wild in Africa? The answer may surprise you!
Lions – The latest assessment of lion according to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) was that there were around 23,000 (sub-adult and adult lions)
Rhino – The latest assessment of rhino according to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) puts the numbers of white rhino at 18,064 and 5,630 Black Rhino making a total of 23,694.
Therefore, probably there are more rhino than lions in Africa: work needs to continue to reduce the declines and start to see numbers increase.
The reasons for the number of lions decreasing are sadly familiar. Habitat loss and fragmentation; poaching for body parts; retaliation killing for livestock losses; trophy hunting, pressures from climate change such as increasing droughts and associated consequences for farmers adding pressures; where livestock have cultural/status value increased prosperity can lead to increased numbers of livestock adding to land use pressures; diseases; and injury such as lions caught in snares.
It’s well known that Lions play a very important role helping to balance an ecosystem and it’s true that where lions are absent other predators can flourish. This has been seen at Okonjima Nature Reserve with leopards and Brown Hyena benefiting. However, without predators capable of keeping the numbers of large herbivores in check it’s easy for any reserve with a fixed fenced boundary to become unbalanced. Then human intervention can be needed.
Key to keeping lions running wild across Africa is space/habitat plus working with farming communities to help them reduce the human wildlife conflict. This would include a range of support, training and education for farmers and the wider population. As the local people ‘see’ and recognise the ‘value’ of its charismatic species such as lion conservation efforts increase in effectiveness.
Ecotourism and intact ecosystems can benefit all and increase local prosperity and has been shown in some conservancies in Namibia
The Namibian Lion Trust works with local communities to support the farmer, bringing tools to help them such as bomas and practical help if the lions threaten their livestock. Lions in the area are tracked and identified with the goal of collaring as many as possible so their where abouts are known. Not an easy feat when ones is dealing with rugged barren landscapes with no roads and lions that roam vast distances and blend into the landscape. Namibian Lion Guards are a part of a Lion Ranger programme that covers a vast remote area in NW Namibia, and which is also home to free roaming black rhino and rangers working to keep them safe too.
Can we on World Lion Day raise funds to thank and support the Nambian Lion Guards?
They love their job but it’s tough and it would be good to give them tangible support with funds to pay for essentials like new boots, new tyres, batteries for the camera traps, food for when collaring a lion which might take a week; materials for boma’s, transport costs and their vital mobile phones which help them alert famers to the presences of lions.
Ways to help
• Make a donation
• Arrange a fundraiser – do let us know and we may be able to help or donate a prize
• Buy something from the shop
• Sign up for easyfundraising so whenever you buy something online AfriCat UK gets a little extra at no cost to you
• Buy a Chris Packham print.
A big THANK YOU goes to Blair Drummond Safari Park, near Stirling in Scotland. The reason is the staff, as part of their link to the wild programme, work tirelessly to raise funds throughout the year for the Namibian Lion Trust. If you are in the area pay them a visit!
Any other organization wanting to help please get in touch and we would be delighted to talk with you.
Namibian Lion Trust 2023 Award Winners
The work of a Lion Guard is never done: a change of heart and mind-set, attitudes and behaviour, especially ‘modernizing’ age-old farming practices, takes time, determination and steadfastness… but will bring us all one step closer to co-existence between man and lion. (Tammy Hoth-Hanssen, Founder Namibian Lion Trust).
World Ranger Day 31st July 2024
World Ranger Day celebrates the work done tirelessly by all the wonderful rangers of the world helping to patrol their land.
This includes monitoring the wildlife in their care, reducing human wildlife conflict, tackling poaching, educating the public on correct behaviour, and helping to ensure many of our endangered species across the world are given that vital extra bit of protection to support their survival.
We salute and thank you for your dedication, hard work, energy and commitment, without you the world would be a poorer place.
The Lion Guards/Rangers of the Namibian Lion Trust are valued members of the Lion Ranger Programme in Northwest Namibia. This arid area is home to (arguably) the last completely free roaming population of black rhino, desert adapted elephants, lions, brown hyena and a range of plains game. The area has a small population of cheetah, and the elusive leopard can be found here too.
The local population live a predominately subsistence farming lifestyle, within communities led by their chief and usually wider community leadership/management group. Since Independence in the early 1990’s these tribal areas have been encouraged to become legal entities called ‘conservancies’ with defined land boundaries. As a conservancy the local people can enter legal contracts with other organizations. Many conservancies have linked up with tourist lodges and benefit from the tourism on ‘their’ land.
All the Lion Rangers including the Nambian Lion Trust Lion Guards and the Black Rhino Rangers are recruited by their local community and most are famers too. Their role is not without risk to life and limb. Walking the bush day after day can lead to ‘interesting’ encounters with the local fauna and flora. However, growing up in the area these men and women are ‘street wise’ or should that be ‘bush wise’ knowing how to look after themselves. But accidents can happen, a twisted ankle is not fun when you may be hours from home. The risk increases when called upon to help deter the lions from raiding a kraal of livestock.
The Lion Guards use a range of methods designed to ‘chase’ the lions away. This can be very hazardous especially in the dark, in areas with minimal or no roads and a range of agitated animals. The Lion Guards work to bring about a way that the community, the lions and other wildlife can share the land.
Sadly, lions are killed for different reasons but most common is retaliation for when a lion has killed livestock.
The remains of a carcass is commonly laced with the poison. The poison has knock on consequences for other animals and birds too.
Lions are also hunted down, maybe on horseback, and shot. Snares are set to catch antelope for meat, but a lion can get caught and is unlikely to survive. Trophy hunting is legal and may be a way a conservancy gains revenue.
To celebrate World Ranger Day, you can send messages of support to all the Rangers for their valuable and often unsung work by making a donation here. Funds raised will go to the Nambian Lion Trust to help with things like covering life insurance and health premiums so that the guards/rangers know they and their families have some protection should the worst happen.
Additional safety equipment and resources like thunder flashes to frighten the lions are on the wish list too. Rest assured the money will be much appreciated and put to very good use!
All those working to support the charity in the UK are volunteers. Thank you.
Namibian Lion Trust 2023 Award Winners
The work of a Lion Guard is never done: a change of heart and mind-set, attitudes and behaviour, especially ‘modernizing’ age-old farming practices, takes time, determination and steadfastness… but will bring us all one step closer to co-existence between man and lion. (Tammy Hoth-Hanssen, Founder Namibian Lion Trust).
The Kunene Lion Ranger Programme (of which Namibian Lion Trust is a part) has brought together key people, plus some international funding and facilitated important developments.
This project clearly needed to be on a landscape basis within the Kunene Region, Northwest Namibia, saw the welcome collaboration initiated in 2020, between the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism (MEFT), Namibian Lion Trust and several other local and international stakeholders. The net result has increased community support and livestock protection and improved the knowledge of lion numbers and their movement in relation to livestock herds.
Key elements of this programme are the Lion Guards, Early-Warning Systems and Rapid Response Units to encourage greater tolerance of conflict wildlife, enabling co-existence and improved monitoring.
The 12 Namibian Lion Trust (NLT) Lion Guards are an integral part of the Kunene Lion Ranger Programme. They are dedicated to patrolling conflict-zones and to monitor lion across the northwestern landscape. A major development has been the much-improved Early-Warning Systems, which include Logger-units that are based near homesteads and in recognized lion ranges, together with Vehicle Response Units (GPS-Satellite communications modems fitted into the Rapid Response Unit’s (RRU) vehicles, commonly known as ‘Rovers’, which have notably changed the face of lion conservation in Namibia’s northwest. Whilst on vehicle/foot-patrols real-time lion locations are made available to the First Responder of each Rapid Response Unit, either via communications with the NLT base-station or generated by the ‘Rover’; this apparatus is of utmost importance in locating lion in need of immediate protection.
Regular foot patrols are carried out in ‘hot-spot’ areas in order to mitigate conflict on communal farmland. Trained in the use of SMART (Spatial Monitoring & Reporting Tool), valuable information on Lion whereabouts, livestock management, Lion and livestock mortalities as well as evidence of bushmeat poaching and the dreaded Lion Bone Trade, is collected and evaluated, providing reliable assessments and reports. Each Lion Guard’s patrol history, including total distance and route covered, is recorded.
Meet Jackson Kavetu, the Namibian Lion Trust Senior Lion Ranger and First Responder
Jackson was raised in the Ehirovipuka Conservancy, Kunene Region, and at a young age became a Conservancy ‘Environmental Shepherd’ or better known as Conservancy Game Guard. Rapidly attaining a senior position, Jackson was hailed as a devoted wildlife champion. Jackson joined the Namibian Lion Trust in 2016, recognizing the need for sound research, community support and the further development of tried-and-tested mitigation options to the ever-present, farmer-lion conflict. A farmer in his own right, he advocates improved livestock management to reduce the retaliatory killing of predators. Jackson recently won an Award for Dedication and Service as a First Responder; this accolade and his winnings, included amongst others, one ram and five ewes, which complement his livestock herd. The 2023 Lion Ranger Awards saw Jackson become Top performing Rapid Response Member. Working in the Ehi-Rovipuka Conservancy Jackson has now become a Rapid Response leader and has single-handedly covered the entire Ombonde landscape over the last few months, responding to conflict, transporting Rangers from their homes to their patrol bases and back, and supporting teams stationed at various bases. Between 21 October 2022 and 20 September 2023, Jackson covered a total of 31,281 km. During this same period, Jackson received 261 notifications and replied to 92%, responding to 90% of all conflict notifications he received.
Meet Rinoveni Tjauira who in the 2023 Lion Ranger Awards gained first place as Top performing Lion Ranger Working in the Omatendeka Conservancy.
Rinoveni says ‘I like working with Lions as they are very interesting animals and getting to learn about their behaviour from up close, is a good thing. My first patrol was with our First Responder, Jackson Kavetu, where I learned how to use the VHF-Telemetry Tracking system and to set camera traps and, for the first time, I saw a Lion that was very close to us – it was so beautiful I could not stop staring. During my time with Namibian Lion Trust, I have also joined in Anti-Poaching Training, Law Enforcement, Tracking and Predator Behaviour, which has given me more knowledge and confidence in my work.’
Rinoveni has shown incredible dedication and improvement over the last year. He has surpassed expectations this year, patrolling up to 47km on foot per day, covering over 800km in June and over 700km each month in July and August 2023! Between 21 October 2022 and 20 September 2023, Rinoveni covered a total of 4,887 km on foot, spending 1,297 active hours over 290 patrols, representing an average of 17km per patrol. Rinoveni is known among the Rangers as quiet and friendly, always ready to patrol alone or as part of a team. It is a great testament to his dedication and abilities that many of his fellow rangers consider Rinoveni capable of covering a more than 100 km² portion of his conservancy entirely on his own, across inhospitable, rough terrain, weathering extreme conditions ranging from icy cold winds and frost to temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius.
Tammy says We are so proud of both Jackson and Rinoveni’s achievements. (Jackson far right and Rinoveni 2nd from left) From all of us at Namibian Lion Trust, we applaud our Lion Guards for their dedication and determination to mitigate farmer-lion conflict in our bid to enable co-existence. AfriCat UK wishes to sincerely thank and applaud the achievements of Jackson and Rinoveni together with the hard work of all the other Namibian Lion Trust Lion Rangers.
The Kunene Lion Ranger Programme 2023 Award winners includes Jackson and Rinoveni from The Namibian Lion Trust
AfriCat UK
The AfriCat UK Board.
Frank Horan has taken on the role of Chairman. Frank has been supporting AfriCat UK in various ways since contributing to the new outside classroom at the AfriCat Foundation in memory of Jenny his daughter.
Janet Widdows has joined him on the Board, and we are actively seeking new Trustees. In addition, we have keen supporters of the work in Namibia who assist the Board with various tasks and our longstanding Patrons and Ambassadors.
Any offers of help are most welcome, please contact either Frank or Janet.
AfriCat UK’s Vision
To contribute towards the conservation efforts of the Namibian charities who work to conserve suitable habitat and environments where carnivores and endangered species can thrive and survive. This work will involve education, research and working with local communities.
Misson Statement
To promote the need for conservation of the natural world for all in Namibia. To work with local charities supporting their projects and initiatives. This will include but not be limited too, awareness raising of issues in the UK, Namibia and the wider world; supporting local educational initiatives; fundraising; promoting visits to the region and Okonjima; encouraging and sharing relevant research work; working to reduce human wildlife conflict and to involve local communities with all relevant activities.
Contacting AfriCat UK
correspondence address: 5 Brackendale Way, Reading, Berkshire RG6 1DZ
phone: landline 0118 935 1681 (please leave a message if no reply)
email address: support@africat.co.uk has replaced info-uk@africat.org but anything sent to the old email is being forwarded and we will reply.
AfriCat UK board members can be contacted with their first name followed by @africat.co.uk
website: www.africat.co.uk
AfriCat - Behind the Scenes
The AfriCat Foundation welcomes Okonjima guests to come behind the scenes to learn first-hand about the work of the Foundation.
The AfriCat Behind The Scenes programme is available for groups of guests between 4 to 8 pax booked into the Okonjima Bush Camp or Luxury Villa for at least three nights on a fully inclusive basis.
This experience will give you a deeper insight into our research projects, such as the Brown Hyaena, Pangolin, the Leopard and other endangered species. Guests will be able to see and participate in AfriCat work that can be scheduled for the time of the visit such as re-collaring as well as the option of meeting the “AfriCat ambassador carnivores” that are in the care of AfriCat.
For more information please visit: AfriCat Behind the Scenes
Since 2014, AfriCat UK (UK Charity Commission Number 1120026) has supported The AfriCat Foundation and The Namibian Lion Trust (Formerly AfriCat North). AfriCat UK raises funds for the various programs that have been developed by the Namibian charities to assist in research of key species, research of solutions to Human Wildlife Conflict, and the education of local communities in Namibia.
We have successfully funded research that has assisted in the better understanding of the Cheetah, Pangolin, Leopard, Lion, and Hyenas. AfriCat UK have funded the building of a school for local communities to improve the link in conservation and education for future generations. Many world renowned veterinary clinicians have based their research and resultant doctorates on the animals and facilities that can be found at the two charities in Namibia that we continue to fund. The importance of this research allows for wide-spread conservation initiatives that impact species globally.