Lioness shot dead after fatal attack on German businessman in Namibia

The South African

14 hours ago

A lioness known to conservationists as 'Charlie' has been euthanised by Namibian wildlife authorities after she fatally attacked a camper in the remote Hoanib River region – a decision that has sparked a wave of criticism and sadness among wildlife advocates.
The lioness mauled 59-year-old Bernd Kebbel, a German-born businessman and avid supporter of lion research, after he left his rooftop tent early one morning to use the bathroom.
Though other campers rushed to his aid, the attack proved fatal.
Authorities confirmed that the lioness was tracked and put down shortly after the incident.
A petition to save Charlie quickly gained traction, but officials said she posed an ongoing danger to people in the area and had to be euthanised to prevent further attacks.
'The loss of human life is always tragic, but so too is the killing of a wild animal that was simply following its instincts,' said one conservationist who wished to remain anonymous.
'There needs to be a bigger conversation about how we coexist with predators in their natural habitat.'
The Namibian Chamber of Environment acknowledged the 'double tragedy' in a public statement.
'This is a devastating incident for both the individual and the lion. Lions in the area are under stress due to a lack of prey, which increases the chances of human-wildlife conflict.'
Charlie was well known in conservation circles and had previously been tracked and studied as part of regional lion monitoring efforts.
Her killing has reignited debate about whether humans should be camping in high-risk wilderness zones without adequate safety measures.
Wildlife officials defended the move, saying that once a lion has attacked a human, it cannot be allowed to remain in areas frequented by tourists and locals.
But some environmentalists argue that human activity – not lion behaviour – is at the root of such incidents.
'This lioness paid the ultimate price for our encroachment into their territory,' said a spokesperson from a local conservation NGO.
Calls are now growing for better education around safe camping practices in predator zones and stricter rules on wild camping in sensitive areas.
Meanwhile, the death of Charlie the lioness has become a rallying cry for those demanding more humane approaches to managing wildlife conflict.
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