#头条创作挑战赛 #
The Namib Desert is considered the oldest desert in the world, and it is also one of the most inhospitable places in the world, an unpredictable, arid and remote region on its edge with an area shrouded in dense fog for 180 days a year - the Skeleton Coast.
The coast seems to have a penchant for death, taking its name from whale and seal bones that were once scattered along the coast by whaling, and even used whale bones to build their dwellings by the Ovahimba, who now settle in northeastern Namibia; Thousands of ships have also run aground here.
But don't be dissuaded, the Skeleton Coast is actually full of life and is home to many rare wildlife.
Desert lion
Desert lions, known for making a living in the harsh gravel plains and endless sand dunes of the Namib Desert, are their favorites with marine species such as fur seals, stranded whales and cormorants, and they are the only lions known to target marine prey. But in the 80s of the 20th century, after local farmers unilaterally slaughtered most of the desert lions, the desert lions chose to abandon the hunting ground of the Skeleton Coast, which has lasted for generations.
As conservation awareness progressed, desert lions finally reappeared on Skull Coast in 2002, but they have given up hunting marine prey and only come by occasionally. It seems that this unique diet that lasted for 10,000 years has become history in less than 30 years.
But in 2015, four lionesses were the first to put meat pads on marine species, leading a coastal hunting renaissance.
Back, everything is back!
It's back!
In 2015, a drought decimated animals such as zebras, springbok, eland, and ostriches, leaving desert lions out of food! You can only lean outside and start hunting coastal prey. To replace these staple foods, young lionesses turn to marine birds, mainly cormorants, flamingos, and red-billed ducks. In 2018, researchers at the Desert Lion Conservation Trust (DLCT) discovered that the lionesses had also started hunting fur seals.
But as the desert lion regains its foothold on the Skeleton Coast, the likelihood of aggressive interactions is increasing.
The first four lionesses to return were named Alpha, Bravo, Charlie and Xpl-108. I don't know why the last name is so cool, but it has done several desert lion attacks on humans in recent years, but none of them have caused any casualties.
They are all worn with satellite collars, both to protect lions and to protect the safety of visitors. Namibia's Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism and the non-profit Desert Lion Conservation Trust (DLCT) have created virtual fence lines, called geofencing, to track approaching desert lions. Each time a lion with a satellite collar crosses the geofence, the system records the animal's GPS coordinates and sends an automatic alert, and managers close the area and it is closed.
As a security measure, geofencing is not perfect. Tourists are often frightened and urine before the management arrives late.
This technique has to be combined with publicity for desert lions to be more effective.
Back?
So the desert lion returned to the Skeleton Coast? This is still unknown.
The ongoing drought has caused the desert lion population to change from a measly 150 to an even more pitiful 80.
But some researchers predict that within a year or two, the desert lion's land prey will be revitalized, so the desert lion population will rise.
However, it is uncertain whether they will retreat to land or continue to entrench on the coast.