The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) has responded after a CCTV footage of a lioness scaling a perimeter wall of a private home in Rongai on the wee hours of Wednesday, May 22 morning went viral.
The agency says that after the video, it immediately dispatched its Human-Wildlife Conflict (HWC) team to the area, but the lioness was not in the vicinity.
In the recent past, residents of the neighbourhood have been grappling with the mysterious disappearance of their dogs, until the CCTV footage emerged.
In the footage, the wild cat is seen scaling the perimeter wall before jumping into the compound. Moments later, the lioness is seen jumping put of the compound, with a black dog gripped in its mouth.
KWS assurance
KWS is now assuring the area residents that the HWC team is still patrolling the locality, with backup from the more seasoned Animal Management Unit (PAMU).
“The service is also alerting the public that, during heavy rains such as those witnessed in Nairobi over the past few months, herbivores migrate through unfenced southern part of Nairobi National Park, Kitengela, Athi-Kapiti, and the larger Kajiado and its environs, due to waterlogged grounds and over-long grass which provides hideouts for predators,” KWS says.
Likewise, the KWS says that carnivores — like the lioness in the CCTV footage — migrate in pursuit of the herbivores, which are primary food source for lions, leopards and hyenas.
The agency, however, assures that 80% of the Nairobi National Park is fenced, therefore much of the city residents are safe from wildlife raids.
Be wary of fake news
“KWS therefore advises residents of areas that are prone to these wildlife dispersals to exercise caution, especially at night. The service is also appealing to the public to be wary of misinformation, or fake news, such as that observed in recent incidents if lions allegedly being sighted near the Nairobi Women’s Prison along Lang’ata Road.”
KWS says that after the reports, PAMU teams were urgently dispatched to the areas, patrolled overnight, but the reports turned out to be false.
The service is urging residents to immediately — and in detail — report HWC incidents to its 24/7 toll-free line – 0800 597 000.
