A German tourist has died after being attacked by a lion early last Friday morning at a luxury campsite in the Sesfontein Nature Reserve, northern Namibia.
The victim was identified as Mr. Bernd Kebbel, 59 years old.
Mr Kebbel was on a luxury nature tour of the African country.
Mr. Bernd Kebbel and his wife on a trip to Africa (Photo: X).
The tragic incident occurred while Mr Kebbel, his wife and friends were camping in SUVs at a resort in the reserve.
At dawn, as Mr. Kebbel got out of his car to use the restroom, a lioness suddenly charged at him. The lion’s fierce roar and the victim’s screams woke up the surrounding campers.
Although these people promptly chased away the lioness, Mr. Kebbel died at the scene due to serious injuries to his neck.
Mr. Kebbel was attacked by a lion while climbing down from his tent to go to the toilet (Photo: Facebook).
Namibian police and rangers were quickly on the scene to investigate the incident. Authorities are currently actively searching for traces of the lioness that caused the death of this tourist.
Notably, Mr. Bernd Kebbel is a German businessman, famous for his significant financial contributions to lion conservation in Namibia. He is described by friends and relatives as a friendly person with a great love for nature and a special interest in lions.
The area where Mr. Kebbel was camping and attacked is characterized by a mix of mountains and sand dunes, which is different from the savannah environment lions are used to. However, some prides of lions have adapted to the harsh desert environment and live here.
According to statistics from Namibian rangers, in 2023, there are an estimated 60 adult lions living in this area.
However, lion numbers have now declined significantly due to the effects of drought, scarce prey sources and clashes with humans.
Many lions in Namibia have adapted and can live in desert environments, instead of the usual savanna environment (Photo: Getty).
Adult lions in the desert typically hunt at night, as the terrain makes it difficult to hide during the day. Officials believe the female lion that attacked Kebbel likely wandered into the campsite after a night of unsuccessful hunting.
This is not the first time a tourist has died after being attacked by a lion during a safari in Africa. In April, a 14-year-old girl died in a similar incident while camping in Nairobi National Park.
Source: https://dantri.com.vn/khoa-hoc/du-khach-bi-su-tu-can-tu-vong-khi-dang-tham-quan-khu-bao-ton-thien-nhien-20250604000602532.htm
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