Rogue lion killed
Written By:Rose Kamau , Posted: Sat, Feb 02, 2008


Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) rangers have killed a rogue lion that killed livestock and terrorized residents in Taita District.

The lion was shot dead after attempts to drive it back to the sprawling Tsavo East National Park from where it had strayed proved difficult and dangerous.

The lion had terrorized residents of Gora, Ndii and Kambito villages in Tausa division and killed eight cows and 13 goats.

Tsavo East senior warden James Ole Perrio said the lion was trapped and later killed at Mbololo after several efforts to return it to the park failed.

He said KWS had intensified surveillance in the area to protect locals against marauding animals.

Kirutal ward councilor Thomas Mwatela in whose area the lion unleashed terror however accused KWS of doing little to control wildlife. "KWS has given the local community a raw deal despite constant pleas to address the unrelenting wildlife crisis in the district", he said.

Mwatela attributed the persistent food shortage and poverty experienced in the area to frequent human-wildlife conflict.

Elsewhere marauding elephants reportedly destroyed mature crops in Kasigau location, Voi division sparking fears of famine

Residents have appealed to KWS to drive them out.

These Thorn bush areas adjacent and between Tsavo East and West National Parks have always had high numbers of Elephant and Lion marauding the local villages.
Its good to see the game populations are still there. Not so good for the increasing human population in the villages though.
On traveling through this area where Royalty and famous PHs once hunted Elephant, I was surprised to see that the area could still offer great hunting if allowed.
On dreaming of the great hunts that once took place in the distant hills of Kasigau, Sagala and Taita we where suddenly brought back to reality when a Kenyan Police officer armed with a speed radar pulled us over for speeding just west of the famous Mackinnon road Rail station.
Oh well, back to reality.