Namibian conservation travel company ultimate.earth, previously known as Ultimate Safaris, has invested almost N$100 000 in a fence to keep Otjizeka Primary School pupils safe from desert lions.
This sponsorship, done through the company’s Conservation Travel Foundation and with support from the Lion Recovery Fund and Desert Lion Conservation, aims to reduce incidents of human-wildlife conflict.
According to a press release, the increased lion activity in the area had become a growing concern regarding the safety of the children attending the school. Although Namibia’s desert-adapted lions are globally significant when it comes to conservation, living near them presents real everyday difficulties for local communities.
“Supporting coexistence means recognising these challenges and working collaboratively to find tangible solutions that help people live more safely alongside wildlife,” the press release says.
Save the Rhino Trust Namibia chief executive Simson Uri-Khob coordinated the initiative.
Conservation Travel Foundation founder and ultimate.earth managing director Tristan Cowley says conservation can only succeed in the long term if people who share their landscapes with wildlife are safe and supported.
“Protecting children and creating a safe environment for them to learn is fundamental. This initiative is a practical example of how conservation partners can work together to address the real challenges faced by communities living alongside Namibia’s remarkable wildlife,” he says.
The release says “the Otjizeka school fence is a relatively small intervention in a vast landscape, but one with an important purpose: helping children learn in a safer environment while reinforcing the principle that people and wildlife must both have a place in Namibia’s conservation future.”
The Namibian reported in July that fewer than 100 lions are believed to remain in the area.
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