The Desert Lions Project
In the remote Northern Namib Desert, a remarkable population of lions has adapted to thrive in one of the most unforgiving environments on Earth. For nearly 40 years, Dr. Phillip Stander of Desert Lion Conservation has meticulously gathered ecological data on the population dynamics, behavior, and movements of these desert-adapted lions in the Skeleton Coast region.
His relentless dedication to monitoring these lions has deepened our understanding of human-wildlife conflict and tourism's role and made significant contributions to the scientific study of Panthera Leo.
One of the most remarkable stories from the current population is that of Charly, an orphaned lioness. At just 11 months old, Charly and her two sisters, Alpha and Bravo, lost their mother on the Hoanib Floodplain.
Despite the odds, all three cubs have survived and thrived in the vast Namib Desert. Whilst Alpha & Bravo primarily live on a coastal diet, Charly has predominantly remained inland, where she hunts desert-adapted giraffes, continuing the legacy of her great-grandmother, The Queen.
Her story is one of resilience, symbolising hope for the future of the lion population in the Northern Namib Desert.
The story of Namibia’s desert lions and Dr. Phillip Stander is one closely followed by INEOS Automotive.
It’s also a story Grenadier owners can be a part of, as it's this remote part of Namibia that’s explored in one of the toughest Grenadier expeditions.
In November 2024, our Namibian Grenadier expedition was able to meet up with Dr. Phillip Stander at Hoanib Skeleton Camp.
Over coffee, the group was able to observe Dr. Stander in his vehicle as he used his equipment to track the lions. Their signals had been lost, meaning they’d sought refuge from the sun under large rocks in the nearby mountains. But the group was lucky enough to observe two cheetahs, a mother and cub, feast on their fresh Springbok kill, whilst a lone jackal looked on, hopefully.
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