Hungry lions rampaging in Kenya


At least three people have been killed in attacks by a pride of lions in north-eastern Kenya.
The BBC's Bashkash Jugsodaay says there is a shortage of food for the lions after a severe drought in the region.

Wildlife stocks have also been depleted over the years by militia from neighbouring Somalia who hunt for food.

Pastoralists have been fleeing in fear to the border town of Linoi for safety. Some 50 goats have also been killed in attacks over the last two weeks.

Our correspondent says the lions have been killing more than they can eat on their rampages.

Communities that rely on animals as a store of wealth as well as source of food have already lost thousands of animals in the drought, leaving them destitute.

Angry lions kill villagers in Kenya

June 20 2006 at 10:43AM

A pride of lions killed at least three villagers in Kenya's northern border town of Garissa after three lion cubs were kidnapped by Somali gunmen, local news reports said on Tuesday.

The armed Somalis crossed into the Kenyan border town of Dobley two weeks ago when they nabbed the three cubs, according to the Daily Nation newspaper.

In a bizarre story of hunter becoming the prey, the angry lions then attacked villagers in the town, killing a total of five people in the last two weeks. They have also killed at least 30 goats.

Since then, the pride with an unknown number of lions has terrorised the town, forcing the local chief to send emissaries in a bid to negotiate the cubs' release from the militiamen.


The impasse caused by the abducted cubs has also raised fears of possible cross-border hostilities between the Kenyan ethnic Somalis and their Somali cousins.

District authorities are currently arranging meetings between the two communities a bid to find a solution.

Two attempts by the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) to retrieve the kidnapped cubs were also unsuccessful, as the kidnappers insist on the payment of a ransom, the paper added. - Sapa-dpa

Wow, what a STORY. Three kidnapped lion cubs. Along comes their own kind, pissed off, and in RETALIATION they go on to kill people. By the way, who's negotiating on behalf of the killer lions for the release of the cubs? More lions? People? Almost sounds like something from the Planet of the Apes, or George Orwill's 1984.