The tragic death of Bernd Kebbel, a 59-year-old Namibian businessman and noted philanthropist who supported wildlife conservation, occurred after he was killed by a lioness during a safari, as confirmed by the country’s Tourism Ministry and police on Saturday.
Kebbel had been camping with his 57-year-old wife, Conny, and a group of friends near the Hoanib Skeleton Coast Camp, located in the Sesfontein area of the Kunene Region, approximately 700 kilometers (434 miles) north of Windhoek.
According to on-site reports gathered by Tourism Ministry officials and police, Kebbel had exited the tent, which was set up on the roof of his vehicle where his wife was sleeping, to relieve himself when he was attacked by a lioness, sustaining fatal bites to his neck.
Ndeshipanda Hamunyela, the spokesperson for the Environment, Forestry, and Tourism Ministry, confirmed the unfortunate death to local media outlets.
Separately, Namibian police spokesperson Immanuel Iiduwa announced the official opening of a human-wildlife conflict case as part of the ongoing investigation into the incident.
Iiduwa noted that fellow campers bravely attempted to drive the animal away, but their efforts were sadly unsuccessful in preventing the fatal injuries to Kebbel’s neck.
Kebbel was also a well-respected figure within desert lion conservation circles.
Some media reports suggest that this incident raises significant questions regarding the interactions between humans and wildlife in Namibia’s remote regions, particularly concerning the endangered desert-adapted lion population.