Latest news with #Namibia
The Sun
3 hours ago
- Health
- The Sun
Businessman mauled to death by lion after stepping out of his tent to use the toilet during overnight safari
A BUSINESSMAN who spent large sums of money supporting Namibian desert lions has been killed by one of the predators after leaving his tent to use the loo. Dad-of-two Bernd Kebbel, 59, was with his wife Conny on a wildlife expedition at a camp with friends in the north of the country before the horror attack. 1 The tragedy unfolded when Kebbel got up in the early hours of Friday morning. The philanthropist climbed down a ladder from the safety of his rooftop tent mounted on the top of a 4x4, before the beast lunged at him. His desperate screams woke up the rest of the shocked camp in Namibia who rushed to his rescue in the darkness. They bravely chased off the lioness before it could devour its victim. Namibian police said nothing could be done to save the keen outdoorsman who was killed almost instantly in the savage ordeal. His body was covered up until authorities could arrive. It is believed that the lioness with cubs - named by locals as Charlie - may be hunted and shot dead. A Namibian lion expert said: 'Thankfully it would have been quick as a human is no match for a lioness that is in its prime. 'There are only about 60 desert lions in this region of Kunane where the attack happened and in this particular area around the Hoanib Camp maybe a dozen at the very most." The expert added: 'The desert lions have adapted to the harsh and burning desert environment and have become extremely adept night-time hunters as there is no cover for them during the day." The businessman has two grown-up children, Dieter and Heidi, both in their late twenties. They are said to have moved to South Africa where they went to university before pursuing their careers. It is understood they are flying home to comfort their devastated mum Conny, 57, at their home in the capital Windhoek. Kebbel owned the Off-Road-Centre in Namibia's main city Windhoek which bought and sold 4x4 safari vehicles and accessories needed in the wild. Lion expert Izak Smit said that Namibia's most famous lion expert Dr Philip 'Flip' Stander had named an adult male Kebbel in his honour. He said it was to recognise the large sums of money he paid into looking after lions. .
Daily Mail
3 hours ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
Wealthy philanthropist who spend fortunes supporting Namibian desert lions is killed by one after leaving his tent to use the loo
A wealthy philanthropist who spent large sums of money supporting the Namibian desert lions has been killed by one of the predators after leaving his tent to use the toilet. Businessman Bernd Kebbel, 59, was asleep with his wife Conny, 57, on a wildlife expedition at a camp in the north of the country, blissfully unaware that a hungry lioness was stalking him. As the father-of-two climbed down a ladder from the safety of his rooftop tent, mounted on the top of a 4 x 4, the man-eating beast was lying in wait in the dark and attacked him. His desperate screams woke up the rest of the shocked camp who rushed to his rescue in the darkness and bravely chased off the lioness before it could devour its victim. However the Namibian police, investigating the case, said that nothing could be done to save the keen outdoorsman who was killed almost instantly in the savage lightning fast attack. His blood-soaked body was covered up until the authorities could arrive and it is feared that the lioness, named by locals as Charlie, may be hunted and shot dead. The tragedy happened when Mr Kebbel got up in the early hours of Friday morning, unaware that the watching lioness had creeped into the sleeping camp. According to initial reports, Mr Kebbel climbed down a ladder from the tent on the roof and was then attacked and dragged away by the lioness whose jaws tore into his neck and throat. A Namibian lion expert who spoke on the agreement of anonymity said: 'Thankfully it would have been quick as a human is no match for a lioness that is in its prime. 'There are only about 60 desert lions in this region of Kunane where the attack happened and in this particular area around the Hoanib Camp maybe a dozen at the very most. 'The desert lions have adapted to the harsh and burning desert environment and have become extremely adept night-time hunters as there is no cover for them during the day. 'They are quick and fast and extremely strong and do not get much opportunity to hunt so can become very hungry – hungry enough to risk attacking a feared human.' It is understood that Mr Kebbel and Conny's two children, Dieter and Heidi, both in their late twenties, are now flying home to comfort their devastated mother at their home in the Namibian capital, Windhoek. For many years, Mr Kebbel owned the Off-Road-Centre in Namibia's main city Windhoek which bought and sold 4 x 4 safari vehicles and also sold the accessories required in the wild. Lion expert Izak Smit said that the nation's most famous expert in the field, Dr Philip 'Flip' Stander had even named an adult male Kebbel in his honour. Mr Smith said it was to recognise the large sums of money Mr Kebbel had paid into looking after lions but, tragically, Kebbel had become a 'problem animal' after allegedly killing the local wildlife. A big game hunting firm had even offered a £50,000 licence to rich hunters in order to kill the predator, but before the offer was taken up the magnificent solitary male was poisoned by the local farmers. There are about 38,000 free roaming lions left in Africa, mostly in conservation areas, with the Namibian Ministry of the Environment & Tourist estimating they have just 800. The majority are in the Etosha National Park, with about 110 in the North-West including the Kunene Region where Mr Kebbel was killed while on one of his many wild safaris. Weighing 170kgs, the desert lionesses can run at up to 50mph and measure two metres long, not including the tail. Meanwhile, their powerful jaws have teeth up to four inches long. With very little water in the desert areas along the Skeleton Coast and in the mountains, inland the lions get their liquid from the bodies of prey like ostrich and antelope and seals. But, as villages move further and further into lion territory creating increased human/lion conflict, the predators often attack livestock and villagers reply by shooting, snaring or poisoning them. The violent death of Mr Kebbel was confirmed by the Ministry of Environment and Tourism and the Namibian Police who said that it happened near the Hoanib Skeleton Coast Camp. A Namibian police spokesman said: 'There were brave efforts by fellow campers who drove the animal away but it was too late to save him from the fatal injuries inflicted to his neck' Mr Ndeshipanda Hamunyela, a spokesperson for the tourism ministry, confirmed that officials had been dispatched to the site, adding: 'We can confirm that Mr Kebbel was killed. Our team is on the ground investigating'. He added, however, that it was too early to make a decision on what would happen to the lioness and they would rely on an experts report. Close friend Sharon Baines said on social media: 'What a shock Bernd & Conny as you were just settling in to enjoy the best years of life and everyone is just devastated right now. 'Gentle Bernd your smile and humility will be remember and you made the world a better place. Conny, Heidi and Dieter, there are no words, but we wish you strength and love'. Another post from Marius Burger read: 'Desert lions adapted to survive in the harshest of terrain so are very dangerous as they can be starving and just desperate to find fresh prey. 'Sadly this lioness has tasted human blood and flesh and will have lost its natural fear of a human. There will be little choice than to hunt it down and euthanise it'.
Free Malaysia Today
15 hours ago
- General
- Free Malaysia Today
Lion kills man at Namibian safari lodge
Desert-adapted lions roam the remote northwest of Namibia, where mountains and sand dunes meet. (AFP pic) WINDHOEK : A lion killed a 59-year-old man at a luxury lodge in the remote northwest of Namibia, police said. The victim was camping with other tourists at the tented resort when the early morning incident happened. He was attacked when he stepped out of his tent to use the toilet, environment ministry spokesman Ndeshipanda Hamunyela told local news outlet Informante. Other campers managed to scare off the lion but the man was already dead by then, he said. Police were 'attending the scene and a full report will be submitted in due course', spokesman Elifas Kuwinga said. Desert-adapted lions roam the remote northwest of the country where mountains and sand dunes meet. In 2023, they were estimated to be around 60 adults and more than a dozen cubs. But their numbers have dipped in recent months following a drought-induced drop in prey and conflict with humans.
Malay Mail
16 hours ago
- General
- Malay Mail
Man killed by lion at Namibian safari lodge after stepping out to use toilet; campers managed to scare predator away
WINDHOEK (Namibia), May 31 — A lion killed a 59-year-old man at a luxury lodge in the remote north-west of Namibia, police said. The victim was camping with other tourists at the tented resort when the early morning incident happened, police said. He was attacked when he stepped out of his tent to use the toilet, environment ministry spokesperson Ndeshipanda Hamunyela told local news outlet Informante. Other campers managed to scare off the lion but the man was already dead by then, he said. Police were 'attending the scene and a full report will be submitted in due course,' spokesperson Elifas Kuwinga said. Desert-adapted lions roam the remote northwest of the country where mountains and sand dunes meet. In 2023, they were estimated to be around 60 adults and more than dozen cubs. But their numbers have dipped in recent months following a drought-induced drop in prey and conflict with humans. — AFP
BBC News
a day ago
- General
- BBC News
Africa's week in pictures: 23-29 May 2025
A selection of the week's best photos from across the African continent and beyond: From the BBC in Africa this week: Tears and heartbreak over tragic story of South African girl sold by her motherRemembering Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o - a giant of African literatureCould Nigeria's careful ethnic balancing act be under threat?Namibia marks colonial genocide for first time with memorial day'Nowhere is safe' - Cameroonians trapped between separatists and soldiers Go to for more news from the African us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica
