Monday July 11, 2011
Local News

Ngorongoro lions now eat people


From MARC NKWAME in Ngorongoro, 11th July 2011 @ 12:00,

THE Maasai elders claim that people are being killed and eaten by wild animals, especially lions in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area (NCA).

The Maasai representatives, including local elders (Laigwanans), Village and Ward Chairmen as well as officials from the Ngorongoro Pastoralist Council (NPC) told the Minister of Natural Resources and Tourism, Mr Ezekiel Maige, that people were now living in constant fear of attacks by wild beasts.

This was also among concerns raised in NPC official report presented to the minister by the NPC Secretary, Mr James Moringe.

Without mentioning the exact number of the victims eaten by the beasts, the Olbalbal Ward Executive, Mr Lendukay Kimay, revealed that people who get killed in the park are simply buried by relatives without the information being disseminated because journalists hardly venture into NCA unless there is a special occasion.

Traditionally, the Maasai youth (Morans) have been known to hunt and kill lions as mark of bravery during traditional ceremonies, but now the wild beasts are said to kill and eat them.

''We cannot defend ourselves because it is illegal to kill wild animals, the penalty is 20 years in prison,'' said Mr Nagol Turere the Chairman of Alaililal Village.

However, Mr Kimay of Olbalbal reminded that when the same issue arose in Tarangire National Park two years ago when wild beasts escaped from the park and started eating livestock in nearby villages and close to 30 of them were poisoned by the locals.

''If the situation continues, I won't be surprised if people here don't start doing the same,'' Kimay warned.

Lions, leopards and hyenas have been described to be the notorious beasts currently eating people or their livestock within the NCA, the only park in the country where the Maasai are permitted to co-exist alongside Wildlife.

The Maasai who are traditional pastoralists also claim to be losing large number of cattle, goats, sheep and other types of livestock through the animals' attacks. They demanded hefty compensation for each livestock eaten by the beasts.

There are 50,000 Maasai people currently inhabiting the NCA together with 13,660 cattle as well as 20,000 goats and sheep. NCA which attracts 400,000 visitors every year covers 8,300 square kilometres.

Lions and leopards number within the NCA is slightly more than 100. The carnivores are reported to turn onto livestock during dry spells when most of the herbivores migrate elsewhere looking for pastures.

''We are going to compensate every human being killed in the park, though of course the money paid will just be consolation contribution because a person's life can never be compensated,'' the Tourism Minister responded.

Mr Maige also pointed out that through the revised Wildlife Act 5 of 2009 the government will be paying owners 50,000/- per every cow killed by wild animals and 25,000 if the killed animal is a goat, sheep, lamb or donkey while poultry will attract 10,000/- compensation payment.

''The compensation for each livestock killed by dangerous animals, applies everywhere in Tanzania not only within national parks," he said.

Although the compensation amount for the killing of a human is not stated, the sums mentioned for the death of a cow, which is 50,000 schillings = $31.70 (US) , and 25,000 = $15.84 (US) for a goat leave one wondering about the value placed by the government on the life of a Maasai.

The Gov do not compensate for a "life". Never have and never will. What they do is pay a "consolation" as a token.

Even the compensation of livestock is a new initiative and will just end up being abused