Kenya's government is expressing concern after herders killed one of the country's oldest wild lions. In addition, on Saturday, six more lions were speared at another village, bringing the total number of lions killed to 10 in just one week.
Six more lions were killed by herders in a village after they attacked and killed 11 goats in the Mbirikani area of Kajiado County in Kenya. This brings the total number of lions killed by herders to 10 in the past week, leading to an escalation in human-wildlife conflict that has raised concerns for the government. The Minister of Tourism, Peninah Malonza, met with locals in the Mbirikani area to appeal to them to stop spearing wandering lions and to contact the Kenya Wildlife Service instead.
The government and conservation groups have a compensation program for herders whose livestock is killed by wild animals, but herders have become increasingly protective of their livestock due to a severe drought that has affected the East Africa region.
Craig Miller from the Big Life Foundation commented on the killing of Loonkiito, stating that it was unfortunate as he was the oldest lion in Amboseli National Park. Miller also noted that it is rare for wild lions to live past 15 years, according to conservationists.