Man grazing livestock in Nairobi park killed and devoured by lions
Two lions attacked and killed one person among a group of men grazing cattle in Kenya’s Nairobi National Park.
The case highlights the increasing conflict between wildlife and human communities as the capital city expands.
A Kenya Wildlife Service ranger reported that the group were attacked at around 2am and wardens were able to rescue seven people.
However, an 18-year-old man was killed by the lions and most of his body was eaten, the report said.
Lion attacks are not common, but as Kenya’s capital enjoys a boom in apartment and road construction, an expanding population centre is putting heavy pressure on Kenya’s famed wildlife, especially its big cats. Nairobi National Park is the only wildlife park in the world that lies within a country’s capital city.
Acting Kenya Wildlife Service chairman Julius Mwangi said the men should not have been grazing cattle in the park, which is restricted, especially at night.
A prolonged drought that has affected half of Kenya’s 47 counties has forced the Masai and other livestock-keeping communities to sneak their cattle into the park at night in search of pasture to save their animals.
Several documentaries have shown lions as fearful of the Masai warriors who roam freely within the park with their cattle.
It is believed that is because the Masai will hunt the lions down when their animals are attacked.
Mr Mwangi said lions can recognise Masai warriors from the spears they carry and the red wraps they wear and will stay away.
At night, however, the Masai wear jackets because of the cold and the lions may not have recognised them.
“When the pride of lions pounced on the people they just knew they were human beings,” Mr Mwangi said.
Nairobi National Park’s 45 square miles are home to endangered black rhinos, lions, leopards, cheetahs, hyenas, buffaloes, giraffes and birdlife. The animals roam just six miles from central Nairobi. The government has announced plans to build a railway that will traverse part of the reserve. Conservationists have opposed the railway line, saying it will further damage the wildlife habitat.
Conservationists have said noise from construction is making lions leave the park through the unfenced border, causing them to run into humans more often.
They fear the rate at which lions are being killed means they may disappear from Kenya.
The lion population in Kenya is estimated to have dropped from 30,000 50 years ago to around 2,000 now.