Human-Wildlife Conflict Escalates in Kenya as Herders Kill Six More Lions

In the most recent instance of human-animal conflict in Kenya, six lions were killed by Kenyan herders on Saturday after the pride attacked 11 goats and a dog the previous night, according to wildlife officials.

The killings occurred a day after herders speared a lion thought to be the oldest in the wild in a cattle cage on the fringes of the renowned Amboseli National Park.

A tragic loss for wildlife conservation

(Photo : LOIC VENANCE/AFP via Getty Images)

The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) said that a total of 10 lions have been killed in the Amboseli ecosystem since last week and that officials had met with community members to discuss the issue, as per Phys.org.

The main topic of discussion was how to reduce the possibility of human-wildlife conflict, including the creation of early warning systems to inform communities when wildlife is present nearby.

In an effort to resolve the problem permanently while safeguarding both human lives and animals, KWS officials worked with the local community.

However, some residents around nature reserves in Kenya often complain that lions and other carnivores kill livestock and domestic animals as humans and wildlife compete for space and resources.

The human-wildlife conflict in Kenya has worsened due to factors such as drought, habitat loss, population growth, and poaching.

According to a report by World Wide Fund for Nature Kenya (WWF-Kenya), human-wildlife conflict is one of the greatest threats to wildlife conservation and human livelihoods in Kenya.

The report also stated that between 2014 and 2018, more than 1,000 people were injured or killed by wildlife, while more than 18,000 animals were killed or injured by humans.

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A Blow to Kenya's tourism industry

The six lions killed by herders were part of a national park in southern Kenya that is home to some of the most prized game, including elephants, cheetahs, buffaloes, and giraffes, as per Sky News.

The park is a popular destination for tourists who want to see wildlife in their natural habitat.

The loss of these lions is not only a tragedy for conservation efforts but also a blow to Kenya's tourism industry, which is a key pillar of the nation's economy.

On Friday, after leaving the park in search of food, Loonkito, a famous 19-year-old male lion, was speared to death by Maasai morans (warriors).

In 2021, KWS referred to Loonkito as a "legendary big cat warrior" who had spent more than a decade defending his area.

Loonkito was described as "a symbol of resilience and coexistence" and as "the oldest male lion in our ecosystem and possibly in Africa" by the conservation organization Lion Guardians.

According to Kenya's first-ever national wildlife census, which was carried out in 2021, there are supposedly 2,500 lions there.

Kenya has seen an upsurge in instances of wildlife wandering into human environments recently, meanwhile, as towns are encroaching more and more on the animals' traditional migratory and hunting routes.

A lion that had strayed from its natural home in Nairobi National Park and entered a populated neighborhood during morning rush hour in July 2021 caused chaos.

The killing of these lions has sparked outrage among conservationists and wildlife lovers who have called for more action to protect these majestic animals from human threats.

They have also urged for more awareness and education among local communities on how to coexist peacefully with wildlife and benefit from their presence.