Herder spears to death lion that attacked his 105 goats

A herder yesterday killed a lioness that destroyed his 105 goats.

Kayooko ole Kisemei, 45, said two lions invaded his sheep pen at Olare Motorogi Conservancy in the Maasai Mara Game Reserve at around 4am.

“I was asleep when I heard the goats bleating in distress. I picked up my spear and a torch and when I illuminated the pen a lioness turned towards me. Fearing for my life, I speared it,” Mr Kisemei said.

He added that the wild animal had caused him Sh1 million in losses and demanded compensation from the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS).

“It is not the first time that these wild animals have killed our livestock. We have complained to KWS but nothing happens. This should stop,” said Kisemei.

Area KWS warden James Kilel who visited the scene, termed the incident 'unfortunate'.

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Asked if action would be taken against the herder for killing the wild cat, Mr Kilel said his office was still weighing the options as the herder had killed the lion in self-defence.

However, he asked pastoralists living near the park to fence their animal pens using wire mesh to ward off marauding lions and leopards that roam the area at night. He said the sheep owner would be compensated.

“As per the recently approved KWS law on compensation, we have verified and taken details of the damage and shall forward them to the compensation committee, which will then take them to the head office for the compensation process to commence,” said Kilel.

Human-wildlife conflicts are common in the area and recently herders barricaded a key road to the Maasai Mara reserve after more than 100 sheep were killed by hyenas.