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Daily Mirror
4 days ago
- Daily Mirror
Philanthropist who devoted life to saving lions killed by one as he went to loo
Businessman Bernd Kebbel, 59, tragically died when a lioness attacked him in the early hours of Friday morning as he exited his tent on top of a 4x4 to go to the toilet A philanthropist who devoted his life to saving Namibian desert lions was tragically killed by one of them when he woke up at night to go to the loo. Dad-of-two Bernd Kebbel, 59, and his wife Conny, 57, had joined a wildlife expedition at a camp in the Hoanib River in the north of the country when the tragic incident happened in the early hours of Friday morning. According to reports, the wealthy man and his wife were asleep in their tent mounted on top of a 4x4 when Mr Kebbel woke up as he needed to go to the toilet. However, while climbing down a ladder from his tent, he wasn't aware that a lioness was waiting in the dark. The animal quickly attacked him, with its jaws tearing into the man's neck and throat. Mr Kebbel's screams woke up the rest of the camp who rushed to his rescue and they chased the lioness away before it could devour its victim. But sadly, nothing could be done to save Mr Kebbel, who was killed almost instantly in the attack, Namibian police said. His blood-soaked body was covered up until authorities could arrive at the camp. It is now feared that the lioness, named Charlie by locals, may be hunted and shot dead, Mail Online reported. A Namibian lion expert who spoke on condition 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." Namibian police 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." A spokesperson for the Ministry of Environment and Tourism said an investigation was launched after Mr Kebbel's death. Mr Kebbel's children are now said to be travelling to Namibia to comfort their mother at their home in the capital, Windhoek. According to local news website The Namibian, Mr Kebbel was the former owner of the Outdoor Centre and was well known in desert lion researcher circles. Namibian desert lions are a unique population that have adapted to survive in extremely arid conditions, particularly along the Skeleton Coast. They are known for their ability to adapt their diet to include marine prey, including seals and seabirds, due to the scarcity of their usual pray like oryx and ostriches.
Business Insider
19-05-2025
- Business
- Business Insider
Southern Africa expecting new refinery as Namibia, Botswana deepen energy cooperation
Southern Africa is expecting a new refinery as a result of a joint collaboration between the governments of Namibia and Botswana, as they move to deepen cooperation in the energy sector with the construction of a new refinery. Southern Africa is planning a joint oil refinery project initiated by Namibia and Botswana. The collaboration aims to improve energy security and reduce import dependence. The region's shift toward oil exploration reflects attempts to tap unutilized hydrocarbon reserves. Botswana and Namibia are taking concrete steps toward greater regional energy integration, with discussions underway to establish a jointly-owned oil refinery. The Namibian reports that this initiative, aimed at boosting energy security and reducing reliance on imports, was a key agenda item during Namibian President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah's recent working visit to Gaborone, where she met with her Botswana counterpart, President Duma Boko. If realized, the project could mark a significant shift in Southern Africa's energy landscape, signaling a move toward collaborative infrastructure development and economic self-reliance. According to a statement issued by the office of the Namibian president, ' The two leaders agreed that bridging the gap between the 'haves and the have-nots' and the fight against poverty through job creation required urgent and concrete programmes and projects to be implemented by both countries. ' Namibia, Botswana to reduce dependence on diamonds Botswana and Namibia are key diamond producers in Africa and are actively pursuing strategies to reduce their economic dependence on diamonds, a sector that has historically underpinned their national revenues. This shift is driven by declining global demand for natural diamonds, the rise of lab-grown alternatives, and the inherent risks of relying heavily on a single commodity. ' As diamond-producing countries, Nandi-Ndaitwah and Boko directed that sector officials in both countries needed to work together to maximise revenue and value from diamonds in both countries, ' the statement says. Botswana and Namibia, long reliant on diamond exports, are facing mounting pressure to diversify as global demand declines. In 2024, Botswana's Debswana cut production by 6 million carats, ending the year at 17.9 million, while Namibia's Debmarine plans a 5% reduction in 2025 after a 13% cut the year before. With their economies exposed to market volatility, both nations are now prioritizing diversification and regional collaboration to ensure long-term stability. Oil refining - Next revenue source The joint collaboration between Botswana and Namibia to develop an oil refinery and possibly coordinate oil production efforts could significantly improve the region's energy landscape in several ways. In 2023, Namibia imported $1.52 billion worth of refined petroleum, making it the country's top import and placing Namibia 92nd among global importers. Key suppliers included India ($395M), the UAE ($284M), Saudi Arabia ($206M), Oman ($163M), and Malaysia ($108M), underscoring Namibia's reliance on foreign energy, particularly from Asia and the Middle East. In 2023, Botswana imported $1.08 billion worth of refined petroleum, making it the country's top import and ranking it 105th globally among 226 importers. The majority of these imports came from South Africa ($773M), followed by Namibia ($242M), Mozambique ($59.4M), the UAE ($1.98M), and India ($1.96M), highlighting Botswana's regional reliance on neighboring energy suppliers. Oil drilling in Southern Africa is gradually gaining momentum as several countries in the region seek to tap into untapped hydrocarbon reserves to boost energy security and economic growth. Nations like Namibia, Mozambique, and South Africa have shown increasing interest in exploring and developing oil and gas fields offshore and onshore.
