A lion has killed a 14-year-old girl outside the capital Nairobi, the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) said on Sunday.
The incident occurred on Saturday in a ranch to the south of Nairobi National Park.
The attack was witnessed by another teenager, who raised the alarm, the KWS said in a statement.
The organisation added that after its rangers followed tracks to the nearby Mbagathi River, they found the girl’s remains.
‘KWS rangers and response teams were swiftly mobilized and traced bloodstains leading to the Mbagathi River, where the girl’s body was recovered with injuries on the lower back,’ the conservation agency said in a statement.
‘The lion was not sighted at the scene,’ it added.
It said a trap had been set for the lion and teams deployed to comb the area, along with additional safety measures.
The KWS said a 54-year-old man had also been killed by an elephant in Kenya’s Nyeri County on Friday.
‘KWS conveys its heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and continues to work closely with local law enforcement and communities to enhance the safety of people living near protected wildlife areas,’ it said in the statement.
A lion has killed a 14-year-old girl outside the capital Nairobi, the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) said on Sunday (File image of a lion in Kenya)
The incident occurred on Saturday in a ranch to the south of Nairobi National Park (File image)
It called for more investment in ‘human-wildlife conflict mitigation’, including early warning systems and greater collaboration with affected communities.
Nairobi National Park is just six miles from the city’s centre and is home to animals including lions, buffalos, giraffes, leopards and cheetahs.
While the park is fenced from three sides to prevent wild animals entering the city, it is open on its south side to allow them to seasonally migrate.
Paula Kahumbu, head of the WildlifeDirect conservation group, told the BBC she was urging KWS to improve ‘risk assessments and ensure accurate, real-time communication of wildlife movement and behavior, especially in known high-risk areas such as Savannah Ranch,’ where the 14-year-old was killed.
She also said that all lodges, camps, and residential developments near areas where wildlife lived should be ‘equipped with anti-predator deterrent systems – including lights, alarms, secure fencing, and anti-predator sprays’.
‘Prevention is our first and best line of defense,’ she added.
