Kenya: Buffalo Attack - Warden Admitted to City Hospital



A game warden is fighting for his life at the Mater Hospital in Nairobi after with serious wounds he sustained after he was attacked by a buffalo at Gatirima village in Nyahururu district.

Bernard Macharia was attacked over the weekend while on a regular patrol within the area after it was reported that wild animals were invading farms bordering Marmanet forest.

The senior warden in charge of Nyandarua region Peter Lekeren said the officer was in the company of his other colleagues when the incident occurred.

He said the officer sustained back and leg injuries and was air lifted to The Matter Hospital for specialized treatment after receiving first aid at Charity Medical centre in Nyahururu."The officer was gored by the buffalo which ambushed the officers from behind while on their patrol hence nobody could see it coming," he said.

The district warden at the same time said other game wardens were tracking down the animal saying it would be killed on the spot to avert similar incidents."The animals becomes more violent especially when they attack a human being and it is very necessary to get it killed once we find it", he said.

The incidents come at a time when residents from parts of the district have continued to count loses as a result of the human-wildlife conflicts.

The animals have destroyed crops and farmers have appealed to the government to install an electric fence around Marmanet Forest to curb attacks. KWS only weeks ago paid out Sh4.6 million to victims of animal attacks in Central and Rift Valley provinces.

The officer in charge of mountain conservation area Robert Njue said the cheques will be distributed through the district wardens. Out of the cash, the officer said, those whose relatives died will be given Sh20,000 while maimed victims will receive Sh50,000 each.

Areas notorious for animal attacks include Embu, Mbeere, Nyeri North, Kigumo, Laikipia East, Laikipia West, Meru, Laikipia North, Nyandarua and Samburu.