Nairobi Star (Nairobi)
Wanjohi Gakio
29 November 2011
A pride of lions has killed six cows and an unknown number of sheep at Matwiku and Ng’arua locations in Laikipia West district in the past one week. The stray lions believed to be emanating from Laikipia Nature Conservancy, a private wildlife sanctuary, have been roaming freely in the villages hunting livestock at will after escaping from the ranch.
Residents said that the lions were first spotted in the area last Sunday and their efforts to the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) to drive them back the conservancy have fallen on deaf ears. They said they have been left with no option but to form hunting parties to track down and kill the wild cats said to be hunting in a pack of six.
Stephen Kimani, a farmer at Matwiku, who lost two of his dairy cows to the lions on Thursday night, said that area residents felt neglected by the government that is supposed to protect them and their property adding that he was in a dilemna since he was to repay a loan he had taken to purchase one of his dead grade cows.
Following the attacks on livestock by the beasts, tension is high as residents have vowed to kill them to protect their remaining livestock. By Saturday morning area residents had grouped themselves into hunting parties armed with bows and arrows, spears and machetes ready to track down the lions.
Efforts by members of the local Provincial Administration to diffuse the tension bore no fruits as the visibly angry residents swore to hunt down the lions and kill them.
The residents argued that they were living in fear of even venturing out into their farms since the lions could strike at any time forcing them to remain indoors yet they were mostly farmers who depended on their farms as they continue to count losses from their dead livestock.
When contacted on phone, Laikipia KWS warden in charge Aggrey Maumo said that his officers had laid two snares within the area to trap the animals but disputed that six lions had strayed out of the wildlife conservancy surrounded by an electric fence and said it was only one lioness. “Our rangers have established that its only one lioness that probably very old and cannot match the hunting prowess of younger ones therefore it might have strayed out to target the easier prey of livestock.” He said adding that aged animals lose teeth thus affecting their ability to effectively hunt wild prey.
Maumo called for calm and at the same time cautioned area resident against taking the law into their hands and invade the wildlife conservancy since they could be charged with trespass. The KWS warden assured that his rangers would soon trap the animal and called for calm from the residents. The sanctuary is owned by conservationist Kuki Galman.
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