
Image: Facebook / Conny Kebbel
Namibia’s Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism has confirmed that a prominent Namibian businessman was mauled to death by a lion on Friday 30 May.
Bernd Kebbel (59), the former owner of Off-road Centre, who is also known in desert lion research circles, was camping with his wife, Conny, and a group of family and friends in the Hoanib River, 4 km from Hoanib Skeleton Coast Camp in the Sesfontein area, Republikein reports.
Kebbel apparently climbed down from his roof tent early on Friday morning and was attacked by a lioness, pulled down and bitten on his head and neck.
He succumbed to his wounds at the scene, according to the Kunene Regional Crime Investigations Coordinator, Eric Clay.
The ministry’s spokesperson, Ndeshipanda Hamunyela, said that although Kebbel’s friends were able to chase the lioness away, it was unfortunately too late and he was already dead.
According to Namibian police spokesperson Inspector Immanuel Iiduwa, a case of human-animal conflict has been opened in the Kunene region.
“Members of Nampol are at the scene and a full report will follow later,” the Iiduwa said on Friday.
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