Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Nairobi Residents Kill Six Lions

brothers of the Mara
When lions stray from their reserves, the result is often fatal. Two adult lionesses, two sub adults and two cubs were killed by residents living on the outskirts of Nairobi when the lions strayed from Nairobi National Park into a community boma (corral) searching for food. The lions killed four goats. Rangers responded to reports of the lions in the community with a veterinary capture team, but before they could locate the lions, they were dispatched by irate residents with spears. Kenya has lost 100 lions a year on average for the last seven years. Just 2,000 of the iconic feline remain out of a population that once rivaled man's own. Kenya's Wildlife Service discourages the public from illegally killing lions. They suggest wildlife problems be reported to KWS on their 24 hour hotlines instead. Africa's wildlife is steadily disappearing despite efforts to protect it from burgeoning human development. Once the wildlife is gone, a lot of valuable tourism will stop.