3 Arrested for Poisoning Famous Lions in Kenya - Rawan For Media A
Kenyan authorities have arrested three Maasai herdsmen for allegedly
poisoning a famous pride of lions, killing two, in the Masai Mara Game
Reserve after the lions killed two of their cows, officials said
Tuesday.
A fourth suspect is still at large, said Moses Kuyioni, the reserve's chief warden.
The
lions attacked the herdsmen's cattle in the park in western Kenya on
Sunday night, Kuyioni said. The men are suspected of setting out
poisoned meat for the lions. Two lions from a pride known as the Marsh
Pride died, said the Kenya Wildlife Service.
The
Marsh Pride was featured in the popular BBC television series "Big Cat
Diary" which aired from 1996 to 2008. Zoologist Jonathan Scott, who
co-presented the series and has been following the pride since 1977
mourned the deaths in a post on his website titled "The Marsh Lions: End
of an Era."
The
poisoning not only affected the lions but will move through the food
chain, said wildlife expert, Paula Kahumbu. Six vultures were found dead
near the poisoned meat. Other scavengers such as jackals, hyenas, and
smaller predators will be feeding on the dead animals, too, Kahumbu
said.
Land
division and urbanization have reduced the traditional grazing lands of
the Maasai herdsmen who have responded by allowing their cattle to
browse on the plains of the game reserves.
Kenya's lion population has declined to about 2,000, largely because of human wildlife-conflict, said Kahumbu.
"Lions
generally cannot coexist with humans, which is why protected areas are
so vital. Sadly in Mara the pastoralists are entering the reserve
nightly to graze livestock, so of course lions get killed," Kahumbu
said.
In order to conserve Kenya's remaining lions, Kahumbu said, there should be zero tolerance for cattle grazing in parks.
Authorities need to make it easier for lions to survive inside and
outside of protected areas as the big cats follow the antelopes, zebra
and gnu outside the park, she said.
Also,
people who live in areas near parks need incentives to coexist with the
lions, she said: "Currently there are only costs for living with lions.
No rewards."
By AP, 16 hours 25 minutes ago
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