Latest news with #BerndKebbel
The Citizen
11-06-2025
- The Citizen
Woman tells of how she tried to fight off lion with her fists after it attacked her husband
Bernd Kebbel lost his life after the lion grabbed him by the neck. A heroic wife who tried to fight off a starving lioness that was attacking her husband has opened up about her terrifying ordeal. Philanthropist Bernd Kebbel, 59, who made large donations towards saving the desert lions of Namibia, was attacked and killed by one while camping in their territory. Businessman killed by lion in Namibia Father-of-two, Kebbel had climbed down a ladder from his tent, which was mounted on top of his 4×4, to go to the toilet in the early hours of 30 May. It was at this moment that he was grabbed by the predator. Bernd Kebbel was attacked by the lion after climbing down the ladder from his tent. Picture: Supplied The lioness called Charlie — the star of the award-winning documentary Lions of the Skeleton Coast, released last year at the Cannes Film Festival — was lying in wait for him. The 12-year-old lioness was on her last legs, skeletal and starving, according to photos taken just weeks before, which showed she had not killed to feed for a long time. Her natural fear of human beings was overcome by hunger, and she crept into the camp, which wealthy businessman Kebbel, and wife Conny and friends had pitched earlier. ALSO READ: Male lion captured after roaming Mbombela for days Conny became aware of the attack when she heard the roar of the lion and the cries of her husband as the lion pounced and grabbed him by the neck. Close friend of the couple and wildlife photographer Dirk Heinrich, who has snapped Charlie many times, told Conny's shocking story in her own words on his Facebook page. He spoke after game rangers followed the lion's tracks and were forced to shoot it dead. The animal had also attacked other campers nearby. Bernd Kebbel and his wife Conny. Picture: Supplied The brave widow said neither she nor Bernd would have wanted the lion shot, despite the fact that she had to fight it as it killed her husband. 'We are not angry. We have found peace. We did not want Charlie to die. It happened at a place we and Bernd loved,' said Conny, with both her children by her side. ALSO READ: Lion euthanisation in Mpakeni sparks controversy 'We parked the vehicles in a U-formation with a view of some mustard bushes on the open side because it was windy. After dinner, everybody went to sleep in the roof tents. 'At around 1.30am Bernd said he will go down because he needed to go to the toilet. He opened the zip of the roof tent, and as he climbed down the ladder, I heard a sound. 'It was as if he was surprised, and then a lion growling. I looked out of the tent and saw a lioness had grabbed Bernd by his head,' she said. Wife hit lion's face to try save her husband Conny rushed down and screamed at the lioness, and started hitting the big cat on the face. She also tried to pull on the satellite collar around the lion's neck to get it away from her husband. 'She screamed for help, and one of the men came and hit the predator on the head with a small torch, and eventually the lion did let go and disappeared behind the bushes,' added Heinrich. 'Conny and the others immediately realised that all help for Bernd came too late. The lioness then continued to mock-charge the group, coming in from different directions.' 'Everybody fled into the cars because Charlie was posing a threat to us all,' said Conny. Conny hailed for her bravery A lion expert, who has known Bernd and Conny for more than 10 years, hailed her amazing bravery in taking on the lion alone and unarmed. The tour guide who leads expeditions in the Namibian deserts said: 'Conny has become part of folklore; who in their right mind takes on a lioness and lives? 'It is all anyone is talking about around the bushfires at night. 'She was said to have been screaming at it like a dervish, and grabbed its leather collar and was physically hauling this thing more than twice her weight off Bernd. 'Her screams carried to the two other tents, and another man bravely joined her in taking on the lioness armed only with a torch and battered it over the head. 'The lioness was shocked at being attacked and retreated, but not far, and tried to get back to her 'kill' a number of times, but was driven back each time it came. 'The only thing they could do was get Bernd aboard a vehicle and away from there.' ALSO READ: Escapee lion disappears off face of the earth They then took two of the three vehicles and drove to the nearby Hoanib Skeleton Coast Lodge, where they asked the staff to contact the police at the nearest town, Sesfontein. They and nature conservation officials arrived at 7.30am and were joined by renowned lion expert Dr Philip 'Flip' Stander, who had narrated the award-winning film about Charlie. Stander said he was in the area ironically to find Charlie himself as her satellite collar had stopped working and needed replacing, when he heard his close friend Bernd was dead. Another group attacked by same lion He accompanied officials and police to the site where the lion had attacked and saw that she had returned and had chewed up clothing and equipment left behind. The following night, Charlie attacked another group nearby. They posted a video on social media of the damage it caused to their tents as it tried to slash and bite its way inside. They also got video of the lion up on the hillside looking down at them, just a few hours before the game rangers caught up with her and shot her dead. Lion was famous for her survival skills Charlie was part of the three 'famous' orphan cub sisters of the Skeleton Coast who starred in an award-winning documentary on their incredible survival. Alpha, Bravo and Charlie were born in 2014 then lost their mother to a leopard attack in 2015 at 10 months old. The young lions were given no hope of survival. Stander, out of professional curiosity, studied them and was amazed at how they taught themselves to hunt and survive in such a hostile desert. Charlie moved inland alone and became a unique hunter, able to take down giraffes on her own. She had two sets of cubs but lost them all to the savage environment. This year, with plentiful desert rains, her prey became stronger and moved away from waterholes and near-empty riverbeds, making hunting difficult. She struggled to catch wildlife and became progressively weaker. An extremely emaciated photo of starving Charlie was posted on Facebook weeks before she attacked Bernd showing her as 'skin and bone' and her collar hanging off her. The lion that attacked Bernd Kebbel in Namibia was skeletal and appeared to be starving. Picture: Richard De Gouveia Then, on 30 May, she attacked and killed Bernd, who had ironically devoted much of his life and money to protect the Namibian desert lions. Charlie was one of only 80 or so desert lions left in the remote 20 000 square kilometre regions of north-west Namibia. Namibia has about 800 desert lions left, with half in the National Park at Etosha and the rest scattered across one of the world's most inhospitable areas. Officials of the Namibian Ministry of Environment and Tourism shot Charlie dead on mid-morning on Sunday, 1 June, as she took a break under a bush from the relentless sun. A spokesman said: 'The animal had become habituated and used to humans and was posing an ongoing threat to community members and tourists, so a difficult decision was made.' German-born Bernd made his life in Namibia and became a wealthy businessman through his company Off-Road-Centre, in the capital of Windhoek, selling safari vehicles. He also sold accessories for travelling in the wild and supported the Desert Lion Project with donations and fitting out their research vehicles. He leaves his wife Conny and a son and daughter, Dieter and Heidi, both in their twenties. NOW READ: Women arrested for allegedly trying to sell lion cubs in Boksburg
Daily Mail
09-06-2025
- Daily Mail
'I saw a lioness trying to EAT my husband, with his head in its jaws': Heroic wife relives moment she HIT lion in the face in doomed bid to save partner - and says she does not want the animal killed, despite his death
A 'heroic' wife who tried to save her husband after he was attacked and dragged off by a lion has spoken out about the terrifying ordeal for the first time. Conny Kebbel, 57, was on a wildlife expedition camp in northern Namibia with her businessman husband Bernd, 59, last month when a starved lion pounced on him and killed him. The father-of-two, who had climbed down a ladder from his rooftop tent mounted on the top of a 4 x 4 to use the bathroom in the early hours of the morning, was suddenly grabbed by the predator - a lioness called Charlie. The ferocious roar of the animal and the cries of her desperate husband as the lioness grabbed him by the neck and dragged him into the bushes alerted Mrs Kebbel, who was still sleeping in the rooftop tent. Speaking about her husband's tragic death, Mrs Kebbel described how he had left his tent at around 1.30 am, when she suddenly heard a sound. 'It was as if he was surprised and then a lion [began] growling. 'I looked out of the tent and saw a lioness had grabbed Bernd by his head,' she said as she relived the horror of the attack. Mrs Kebbel bravely rushed out of the tent and began hitting the lioness in the face with a satellite pole she had ripped off from a vehicle in an attempt to get the wild cat away from her husband. The 12-year-old lioness is said to have been on her last legs, skeletal and starving A man who was on the expedition with the couple also rushed to Mr Kebbel's rescue and managed to hit the predator in the head with a small torch, scaring the animal away before it could devour her victim. But nothing could be done to save the keen outdoorsman who was killed almost instantly in the savage attack. Charlie disappeared behind the bushes, but she then returned and 'continued to mock charge the group coming in from different directions'. 'Everybody fled into the cars because Charlie was posing a threat to us all', Mrs Kebbel continued. The tragedy happened during a desert trip in the Kunene Region where a group of six adults and six children travelling in three 4 x 4's had stopped to make camp. The night after Mr Kebbel's violent death, Charlie attacked another group nearby. A video was posted on social media of the damage she had caused to their tents as she tried to slash and bite its way inside. Following the horrific ordeal, officials of the Namibian Ministry of Environment and Tourism shot Charlie dead as she took a break under a bush. A spokesman said: 'The animal had become habituated and used to humans and was posing an ongoing threat to community members and tourists so a difficult decision was made'. Conny Kebbel, who shares two children with her late husband, said: 'We are not angry. We have found peace. We did not want Charlie to die. It happened at a place we and Bernd loved.' A lion expert who has known Bernd and Conny Kebbel for over 10 years hailed her amazing bravery in taking on a lion killing her husband alone and unarmed. The tour guide who leads expeditions in the NW Namibiian deserts said: 'Conny has become part of folklore as who in their right takes on a lioness and lives. 'It is all anyone is talking about around the bush fires at night. 'She was said to have been screaming at it like a dervish and grabbed its leather collar and was physically hauling this thing more than twice her weight off Bernd. 'Her screams carried to the two other tents and another man bravely joined her in taking on the lioness armed only with a torch and battered it over the head. 'The lioness was shocked at being attacked and retreated but not far and tried to get back to her 'kill' a number of times but was driven back each time it came. 'The only thing they could do was get Bernd aboard a vehicle and away from there.' The lion expert added that the 'bravery of Conny is all that anyone is talking about right now'. The 12-year-old lioness is said to have been on her last legs, skeletal and starving. Photos of the animal taken just weeks before showed her bony body, suggesting she had not killed to feed for a long time. It is believed that her natural fear of human beings was overcome by hunger and she crept into the camp in which Mr Kebbel and his wife and their friends were camping out in. Mr Kebbel, who was originally from Germany, was a wealthy philanthropist who had spent large sums of money supporting Namibian desert lions. He also worked closely supporting the Desert Lion Project with donations and fitting out their research vehicles. Charlie was part of the three 'famous' orphan cub sisters of the Skeleton Coast who starred in an award-winning documentary on their incredible survival broadcast worldwide. Namibia has about 800 desert lions left with half in the National Park at Etosha and the rest scattered in the boiling heat and drought of one of the world's most inhospitable areas. There are about 38,000 free roaming lions left in Africa mostly in conservation areas and the Namibian Ministry of the Environment & Tourist estimates they have just 800 left. Every year in Africa lions are estimated to kill about 250 people. Conservation groups are warning tourists only to camp in designated sites managed by the local communities for safety but to also help protect lions like Charlie. One conservationist said: 'The loss of a human life, an irreplaceable lioness and part of Namibia's tourism and nature legacy, is mourned and may Charlie's story serve as a lasting reminder that true admiration of nature begins with respect and distance'.
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Yahoo
The risk of death is greater than safari goers would like to believe
There's a mistaken assumption that heavy rains halt play for most wildlife. But one thing I've learnt from my 50-plus safaris is that animals – particularly predators – are reliably unpredictable. My most recent uncomfortably close encounter occurred earlier this year during the height of Kenya's rainy season. Thick grey clouds had gathered over the luxury lodge where I was staying on the edge of the Maasai Mara, accelerating the onset of dusk. During daylight hours, it's generally considered safe to walk freely between rooms – even in unfenced areas – so with the sun still hovering above the horizon, I assumed a short dash to the communal dining area would be fine. As I left my fancy villa, furiously scrolling through emails on my phone, I heard a growl far louder than peals of thunder tearing across the plains. Looking up, I saw the back end of a lioness prowling through the undergrowth and I did exactly what I've always been told not to do – I turned around and ran. In reality, she was probably more terrified of the giant two-legged creature encroaching on her territory – but bumping into a big cat in Africa doesn't always end so well. On May 30, businessman Bernd Kebbel was mauled to death by a lioness as he stepped out of his tent to use the toilet. He was camping in Namibia's Hoanib Valley, a remote area where desert-adapted lions roam along seasonal riverbeds. I'd visited the region only two weeks previously and had been thrilled to spot a lion in a region historically ravaged by drought. According to a survey carried out by Namibia's Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism (MEFT) in 2022/2023, there are less than 100 desert-adapted lions in the country, with numbers fluctuating due to human/wildlife conflict. That population declined further when Charlie, the lioness responsible for the attack, was shot dead by authorities. What happened to Mr Kebbel was tragic, but it's not the first time that foreigners have had fatal run-ins with animals. Last year, an American tourist was killed when an elephant charged their vehicle in Zambia's Kafue National Park. A month earlier, a Spanish traveller was trampled to death by a breeding herd when he stepped out of his car to take a photograph in a South African game reserve. As the safari industry continues to thrive and our appetite for wild encounters grows, our guards have dropped faster than the fences which once enclosed many camps. I've always been an advocate for opening up corridors, allowing elephant herds to follow traditional migratory routes and predator-prey dynamics to naturally evolve. But living alongside wildlife requires careful and cautious planning and as human populations continue to grow, that relationship hangs in a delicate balance. The real problem is not 'them' but 'us' and the safari industry is partly to blame. Cultivated by marketers eager to sell holidays, the romantic, Disneyfied notion of an idyllic wilderness is misguided. On countless game drives, I've watched vehicles edge uncomfortably close to potentially dangerous animals in the hope of getting a better iPhone photograph. There's also an assumption that booking a room in a five-star lodge gives us carte blanche to wander around freely as we would at home. Despite repeated warnings from staff, it's all too easy to switch off our senses – ironically detaching ourselves from an environment where we're encouraged to feel immersed. To their credit, many camps – like Angama Amboseli in Kenya and Dukes in Botswana – are attempting to educate travellers about the true struggles of human and wildlife co-existence. But due to a combination of complacency and over-confidence, too many have lost a healthy, respectful fear for the wild. Of course, not every creature in Africa's forests, plains and oceans is actively set on killing humans. Far from it. Most would prefer to be left to continue their lives undisturbed. But blurring the invisible boundaries which should exist between humans and wild animals can lead to fatal accidents. Every time I look into a lion's eyes, I shudder. Hearing their guttural roars outside my tent still sends me into shivers. That tingling fear is humbling – a reminder of the awesome wonders existing within our natural world. Several years ago, I joined a mobile safari through northern Namibia with the late conservationist Garth Owen Smith. One night, we camped on a dry riverbed, close to the Hoanib Valley. As we fell asleep, listening to lions roar, I asked Owen Smith why nobody had thought to pack a rifle for protection. 'Because we might be tempted to use it,' he replied matter-of-factly. Years later, his response makes total sense. Far more effective than bullets, fear, respect and caution are the greatest weapons we have to protect ourselves in a world which should always be alluringly but dangerously wild. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Telegraph
06-06-2025
- Telegraph
The risk of death is greater than safari goers would like to believe
There's a mistaken assumption that heavy rains halt play for most wildlife. But one thing I've learnt from my 50-plus safaris is that animals – particularly predators – are reliably unpredictable. My most recent uncomfortably close encounter occurred earlier this year during the height of Kenya's rainy season. Thick grey clouds had gathered over the luxury lodge where I was staying on the edge of the Maasai Mara, accelerating the onset of dusk. During daylight hours, it's generally considered safe to walk freely between rooms – even in unfenced areas – so with the sun still hovering above the horizon, I assumed a short dash to the communal dining area would be fine. As I left my fancy villa, furiously scrolling through emails on my phone, I heard a growl far louder than peals of thunder tearing across the plains. Looking up, I saw the back end of a lioness prowling through the undergrowth and I did exactly what I've always been told not to do – I turned around and ran. In reality, she was probably more terrified of the giant two-legged creature encroaching on her territory – but bumping into a big cat in Africa doesn't always end so well. On May 30, businessman Bernd Kebbel was mauled to death by a lioness as he stepped out of his tent to use the toilet. He was camping in Namibia's Hoanib Valley, a remote area where desert-adapted lions roam along seasonal riverbeds. I'd visited the region only two weeks previously and had been thrilled to spot a lion in a region historically ravaged by drought. According to a survey carried out by Namibia's Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism (MEFT) in 2022/2023, there are less than 100 desert-adapted lions in the country, with numbers fluctuating due to human/wildlife conflict. That population declined further when Charlie, the lioness responsible for the attack, was shot dead by authorities. What happened to Mr Kebbel was tragic, but it's not the first time that foreigners have had fatal run-ins with animals. Last year, an American tourist was killed when an elephant charged their vehicle in Zambia's Kafue National Park. A month earlier, a Spanish traveller was trampled to death by a breeding herd when he stepped out of his car to take a photograph in a South African game reserve. As the safari industry continues to thrive and our appetite for wild encounters grows, our guards have dropped faster than the fences which once enclosed many camps. I've always been an advocate for opening up corridors, allowing elephant herds to follow traditional migratory routes and predator-prey dynamics to naturally evolve. But living alongside wildlife requires careful and cautious planning and as human populations continue to grow, that relationship hangs in a delicate balance. The real problem is not 'them' but 'us' and the safari industry is partly to blame. Cultivated by marketers eager to sell holidays, the romantic, Disneyfied notion of an idyllic wilderness is misguided. On countless game drives, I've watched vehicles edge uncomfortably close to potentially dangerous animals in the hope of getting a better iPhone photograph. There's also an assumption that booking a room in a five-star lodge gives us carte blanche to wander around freely as we would at home. Despite repeated warnings from staff, it's all too easy to switch off our senses – ironically detaching ourselves from an environment where we're encouraged to feel immersed. To their credit, many camps – like Angama Amboseli in Kenya and Dukes in Botswana – are attempting to educate travellers about the true struggles of human and wildlife co-existence. But due to a combination of complacency and over-confidence, too many have lost a healthy, respectful fear for the wild. Of course, not every creature in Africa's forests, plains and oceans is actively set on killing humans. Far from it. Most would prefer to be left to continue their lives undisturbed. But blurring the invisible boundaries which should exist between humans and wild animals can lead to fatal accidents. Every time I look into a lion's eyes, I shudder. Hearing their guttural roars outside my tent still sends me into shivers. That tingling fear is humbling – a reminder of the awesome wonders existing within our natural world. Several years ago, I joined a mobile safari through northern Namibia with the late conservationist Garth Owen Smith. One night, we camped on a dry riverbed, close to the Hoanib Valley. As we fell asleep, listening to lions roar, I asked Owen Smith why nobody had thought to pack a rifle for protection. 'Because we might be tempted to use it,' he replied matter-of-factly. Years later, his response makes total sense. Far more effective than bullets, fear, respect and caution are the greatest weapons we have to protect ourselves in a world which should always be alluringly but dangerously wild.
The South African
06-06-2025
- The South African
Lioness shot dead after fatal attack on German businessman in Namibia
A lioness known to conservationists as 'Charlie' has been euthanised by Namibian wildlife authorities after she fatally attacked a camper in the remote Hoanib River region – a decision that has sparked a wave of criticism and sadness among wildlife advocates. The lioness mauled 59-year-old Bernd Kebbel, a German-born businessman and avid supporter of lion research, after he left his rooftop tent early one morning to use the bathroom. Though other campers rushed to his aid, the attack proved fatal. Authorities confirmed that the lioness was tracked and put down shortly after the incident. A petition to save Charlie quickly gained traction, but officials said she posed an ongoing danger to people in the area and had to be euthanised to prevent further attacks. 'The loss of human life is always tragic, but so too is the killing of a wild animal that was simply following its instincts,' said one conservationist who wished to remain anonymous. 'There needs to be a bigger conversation about how we coexist with predators in their natural habitat.' The Namibian Chamber of Environment acknowledged the 'double tragedy' in a public statement. 'This is a devastating incident for both the individual and the lion. Lions in the area are under stress due to a lack of prey, which increases the chances of human-wildlife conflict.' Charlie was well known in conservation circles and had previously been tracked and studied as part of regional lion monitoring efforts. Her killing has reignited debate about whether humans should be camping in high-risk wilderness zones without adequate safety measures. Wildlife officials defended the move, saying that once a lion has attacked a human, it cannot be allowed to remain in areas frequented by tourists and locals. But some environmentalists argue that human activity – not lion behaviour – is at the root of such incidents. 'This lioness paid the ultimate price for our encroachment into their territory,' said a spokesperson from a local conservation NGO. Calls are now growing for better education around safe camping practices in predator zones and stricter rules on wild camping in sensitive areas. Meanwhile, the death of Charlie the lioness has become a rallying cry for those demanding more humane approaches to managing wildlife conflict. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
