Namibia is home to more than 24,000 elephants, that range from the arid northwest to the lush rivers and floodplains of the Zambezi. Important population of elephants occur in Etosha National Park and Khaudum National Park and are also found on commercial and communal conservancies.

The challenges facing elephants are consequences of human-wildlife conflict, poaching and the illegal wildlife trade, the loss in habitat and the loss of connectivity for freedom of movement, which is particularly important during times of drought. WWF is working with our partners to expand inclusive landscape conservation areas, to help the government implement the country’s Elephant Management Plan, to protect critical wildlife corridors, to fight wildlife crime, and to provide economic incentives to communities that pro-actively protect elephant.

Several distinct yet connected populations of lion exist in Namibia. In the northwest, the so-called desert-adapted lions move across plains and along dry riverbeds to the coast. Namibia’s largest population of lion is found in the Etosha National Park, while the protected parks and communal conservancies in the northeast are important habitat for lions as they move across rivers and borders.

Threats to lions include shrinking habitat, illegal hunting, and human wildlife conflict. WWF is supporting innovative programmes to provide technical and financial assistance to Lion Rangers, to build predator proof kraals (enclosures for domestic livestock), and support payment for conservation performance schemes, all of which encourages tolerance of living with lion and provides hope for the species’ future.