The Kenya Wildlife Service recently reported that within just one week, local residents killed 10 lions, including Loonkiito – one of the oldest lions in the world.
According to Paul Jinaro, spokesperson for the Kenya Wildlife Service, Loonkiito (19 years old) wandered away from Amboseli National Park and entered a village in search of food on the night of May 11. Loonkiito entered a livestock enclosure and was killed by the homeowner.
Loonkiito at Amboseli National Park on February 20. (Photo: Lion Guardians/AP).
The conservation group Lion Guardians stated that Loonkiito was regarded as “the oldest male lion in our ecosystem, and possibly in all of Africa.” According to AP, wild lions rarely live beyond 15 years.
Craig Miller from the Big Life Foundation expressed that Loonkiito’s death was “very unfortunate” as he was the oldest lion in Amboseli National Park.
Six other lions residing in Amboseli were killed by livestock herders on May 13 after they attacked 11 goats in the Mbirikani area of Kajiado County.
The Kenyan government is concerned about the ongoing conflict between wildlife and humans, as the country has lost a total of 10 lions in just the past week.
Tourism Minister Peninah Malonza met with local residents in the Mbirikani area on May 14, urging them to contact wildlife protection agencies instead of killing wandering lions.
The government and conservation groups have implemented compensation programs for residents who lose livestock to wildlife. However, livestock herders in Kenya are becoming increasingly wary after losing their herds due to the worst drought in decades in the East African region.
