Namibia’s top woman lion ranger completes 8 000km patrol despite maternity leave

Community conservancy ranger Ndjitjiuee Karizemi has been recognised as Namibia’s top-performing woman lion ranger after completing 705 patrols covering 8 135km – even while on maternity leave.

Community Conservation Fund of Namibia spokesperson Bernard Chunga says Karizemi has held the top woman ranger position since 2022, and continued to stand out in 2024 when she placed fourth overall among 49 lion rangers operating in community conservancies across the country.

Chunga says Karizemi’s consistent field performance and leadership in community conservation have made her one of the programme’s standout rangers.

“She has consistently held the position of top-performing female ranger since 2022,” he says.

Karizemi’s work earned her further recognition in 2025 when she was appointed as one of the programme’s three patrol leaders, a role in which she now oversees 18 rangers across multiple conservancies.

Chunga says her responsibilities include coordinating ranger deployments, working with rapid response teams, and maintaining communication with conservancy representatives in areas affected by human-wildlife conflict.

The figures released by the fund show that Karizemi completed 705 foot patrols during the reporting period.

Chunga says this translated into 8 135km covered on foot, highlighting the demanding nature of field conservation work in remote areas.

He says Karizemi’s performance was notable because it came in the same year she also took maternity leave.

Her rise is particularly significant in a conservation field that remains largely men-dominated.

Her work has helped demonstrate that women can perform at the highest level in conservation operations that require endurance, discipline and leadership, Chunga says.

“She stands as a role model for women across Namibia,” he says.

According to the fund, Karizemi’s appointment as patrol leader has also put her in a mentoring role, where she helps guide other rangers working in conservancies that form part of Namibia’s community-based natural resource management system.

The lion ranger programme plays a key role in reducing conflict between rural communities and predators, particularly in conservancies where lions threaten livestock and livelihoods.

By coordinating patrol teams and rapid response efforts, Karizemi now occupies a central operational role in conservation efforts aimed at protecting both wildlife and community interests.

Chunga says her long-standing performance record reflects years of consistent fieldwork rather than a once-off achievement.

He adds that Karizemi’s achievement comes as community conservation initiatives continue to rely heavily on patrol data, rapid response operations and ranger presence to manage human-wildlife coexistence in some of the country’s most challenging landscapes.

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