In the vast, unforgiving expanse of the Namib Desert, life clings on in remarkable ways. Not too far away lie three young lion cubs, waiting patiently for their mother who will never return. Her absence is felt like a shadow across the sand. One cannot help but to wipe away a few tears when watching the documentary of the three cubs as they battle to survive without their mother.
Have you ever heard of the Coast of Death? In the northwest of Namibia is a desolate stretch of shoreline that has claimed many ships in the past. The Skeleton Coast is no place for the faint-hearted. Although the living conditions are extremely harsh, many animals call this place home. Here, a small population of desert-adapted lions also survives. Although lions are at the top of any African safari tour, these lions are truly unique. They have adapted in remarkable ways to the environment of dunes, gravel plains and barren mountains.
Photo credits: Janke Murray
If you are lucky enough you might spot them on the beach or in the dunes while chasing a seal, springbok or even an oryx. The Desert Lion is an iconic feature in Namibia and conservationists highly value them, aesthetically and financially. These lions not only have to survive the droughts and harsh climate, but humans also pose a threat to the small lion population. The lions occasionally catch livestock belonging to rural communities which causes financial losses. This leads in the lions being shot or poisoned and limits the lion population.
The Desert Lion Conservation has been tracking the lions and gathering information on their behaviour and demography with the hope to reducing human-lion conflict. Intrigued by the lions and the conservation efforts, filmmakers, Will and Lianne Steenkamp documented one of the female lions and her cubs along the Skeleton Coast for eight years. Alongside Dr. Philip Stander, they were able to bring the story of the three orphaned lion cubs right into our living rooms. Alpha, Bravo and Charly were born in November 2015.
Photo credits: Janke Murray
Just ten months old they lost their mother. The Desert Lion Trust had very little hope for them, but the resilience of a lion is unbelievable. The female cubs pulled themselves together and started to walk. They reached an oasis spring near the mouth of the Hoanib River where they practiced their hunting skills by catching wetland birds. Alpha and Bravo then embarked on a journey until they reached the ocean where they hunted seals for survival. Charly joined forces with their aunt and they were frequently seen in the Hoanib River.
Known as the Hoanib River pride, they became experts in hunting giraffes, a sight not very common for a lion as giraffes are generally too large. Although the desert lions are few and scattered in the Skeleton Coast, they make Namibia unique. With some luck visitors to the Skeleton Coast and Torra Conservancy will be able to spot these incredible animals that have made the desert their home.
Author: Janke Murray