Kenya: Policemen Mauled By Leopard


The Nation (Nairobi)

March 8, 2007
Posted to the web March 7, 2007

Geoffrey Rono
Nairobi

Two administration policemen were admitted to hospital after being attacked by a leopard.

The officers were attacked as they searched for the animal in a bush at Chesegon village, Ndanai division in Bomet district.


The officers, one of whom also has a gunshot wound in the left leg, and 80-year-old Mzee Towett Belion are admitted to the intensive care unit of the Tenwek mission hospital.

They were said to have been helping Kenya Wildlife Service rangers to track down the animal after area residents reported that it was terrorising them.

Sergeant Samuel Towett had his left hand mauled and the right leg shattered below the knee by a bullet. Sources said he was shot by mistake as one of the officers tried to kill the animal that was attacking one of them.

Corporal Alfred Saveto Swamberi was injured in the head and legs.

Seven villagers are said to have been injured in the savage attack and were treated at the hospital and discharged. They were in a group that rushed to the scene when they heard gunshots as the officers and rangers battled the leopard.


Constable Isaiah Ruto was clawed on the chest while corporal Johnson Mbaka was shot in the left thigh.

Dr Mark Freije, the hospital medical superintendent, and Dr Zachariah Losialima, who operated on the victims, described their condition as "serious but stable".

The beast is still at large, leaving the villagers in fear.

Somebody definately was not cool under fire...

Mike

Leopard 11 - people 0.

Looks like TWO police officers were shot - one in the thigh and one below the knee.

Out of the 11 people injured in the attack, it appears that the leopard got to 10 of them.

An out-of-control chainsaw with razor blades comes to mind.