Driver spots lion outside Etosha National Park

In northern Namibia, two lions are causing a stir as they roam outside the Etosha National Park - one to the east and one to the west of the park. This was reported by the online newspaper Informanté, citing the Ministry of Environment. Conservation officers are in the process of tracking down the big cats.

One of the two lions crossed the tar road between Tsumeb and Oshivelo east of the national park in broad daylight. A motorist captured this in a short video that circulated on social media over the weekend.

According to the ministry's press release, the animal is a lioness. She belonged to a pride of two adults and four juveniles living on the Onguma farm. Onguma borders directly on the Etosha National Park.

Conservation officers have tracked the lioness to the Punyu farm. The aim is to return the her safely to Onguma.

There are mainly private commercial farms in the area, the ministry explained. The risk to humans is therefore low. Farmers in the area should be vigilant and protect their livestock.

The second lion was spotted in Oromowa on the western edge of Etosha National Park. There are also rangers in the process of tracking down the big cat and returning it to the park.

Sven-Eric Stender