Peter Leshan @PeopleDailyKe
Eight lions have been poisoned by suspected herdsmen in the Masai Mara National Reserve. Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) said yesterday one of the lions poisoned on Sunday in Musiara area was in critical condition, adding that samples of the poison have been taken to the Government Chemists for analysis.
“Eight of them, who are residents of Musiara, were given poison by people suspected to be herdsmen. One is in serious condition while others have made tremendous recovery,” said Campaign Limo, a KWS veterinarian in the reserve.
In 2010, more than a dozen lions were killed through poisoning in the Mara by herdsmen who claimed the animals were devouring their livestock.
What law says KWS says many lions in the reserve have been killed either through poisoning using Furadan, a banned lethal pesticide, or through spearing following cases of human-wildlife conflicts.
In September, last year, five hyenas were killed through poisoning after they invaded a cattle pen in Mara Rianda area—just outside Musiara Gate in the reserve—and devoured eight sheep and goats.
Limo said had his personnel not intervened early the pride of lions could have succumbed to poisoning and appealed to residents to coexist with wildlife.
“There are processes to follow if they feel aggrieved. Killing wild animals is not one of them,” he said, adding that new wildlife management and conservation laws spell out among other things handsome compensation for victims of human-wildlife conflict.
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