A tragic incident in Namibia claimed the life of a wildlife enthusiast and, ultimately, the lion responsible for the mauling. Bernd Kebbel, 59, was camping in a rooftop tent in the Hoanib River area with his wife and friends. He climbed down the ladder early in the morning to go to the bathroom when a lioness attacked him. Kebbel died of his injuries. Officials in Namibia also killed the female lion, Charlie, to protect other humans in the area.
The Namibian Sun reports that Kebbel was a “well-known businessman and nature lover,” who “generously supported lion research.” The Namibian Sun further calls the man’s death both “ironic and tragic.”
[RELATED: WATCH: Tourist Killed by Charging Elephant in Zambia Park]
According to Deputy Commissioner Eric Clay, Kebbel’s wife screamed for help during the attack, and other campers came to answer the call, but by the time the group drove the animal away, it was too late. Despite a petition to save Charlie the lioness, wildlife officials deemed her unsafe to the public and put her down.
The Namibian Chamber of Environment spoke out about the dangers of camping in this region right now, saying: “This incident is tragic for both the person and the lion. While this individual lion may have become a threat to other people, it is likely that the other lions in the region will also be dangerous during this time due to lack of prey. We urge anyone who is considering wild camping over the next few months to consider camping at established campsites with other people, or at lodges. If you do camp, do not leave your tent at night, for any reason.”
See CBS News’ social-media post about the man killed by a lion in Namibia here:
Header stock image by Mint Images/Getty Images