A 14-year-old girl was killed by a lion on the outskirts of Nairobi, according to the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS). The attack occurred when the lion snatched the child from a residential compound situated on a ranch next to Nairobi National Park.
The alarm was raised by another teenager, prompting KWS rangers to track the lion’s movements to the Mbagathi River, where they discovered the girl’s remains. The lion has not yet been located, but KWS has set a trap and dispatched search teams to find the animal. Additional security measures have been put in place to prevent further attacks.
Nairobi National Park, located just 10 kilometers (six miles) from the city center, is home to various wildlife including lions, buffaloes, giraffes, leopards, and cheetahs. The park is fenced on three sides to keep animals from entering the city, but it remains open on the southern side to allow wildlife migration.
While human-wildlife conflict is common in Kenya, especially concerning livestock, fatal attacks are rare. In a similar incident last year, CCTV captured a lion taking a Rottweiler dog from a nearby home.
In another wildlife-related tragedy, a 54-year-old man was killed by an elephant in Nyeri County, around 130 kilometers (80 miles) from Nairobi. The man was attacked by the elephant while it was grazing in Mere Forest, suffering fatal chest injuries and internal trauma.
Paula Kahumbu, head of WildlifeDirect, emphasized that these deaths highlight the need for better risk assessments and real-time communication regarding wildlife movements. She called for improved anti-predator systems, such as lights, alarms, secure fencing, and sprays, for properties near wildlife areas like Savannah Ranch, where the recent attack occurred.
“Prevention is our first and best line of defense,” Kahumbu said.