Writes Leo Odera Omolo.
WITHIN a brief span of five days the wildlife / human conflict have intensified with report that un-identified wild animals, but suspected to be lions attacked a village within the vicinity of the capital city of Nairobi and killed twenty pigs and piglets worth Kshs 400,00.
This incident came within only to days a report that a rogue leopard strayed in Kirinyaga district and killed ten sheep and goats..
At the same time, residents a village Gatundu district near Nairobi are living in fear after a leopard killed seven sheep at the weekend.
The big cat is said to have strayed into Mrs Lucia Wangari’s compound in the dead hour of the night and mauled the sheep.
‘It was around 3AM when I was watching the Olympic Games on TV when I heard dog barking and sheep bleating. When I went out to check, I saw a leopard. Said Lucia’s son Martin Gakunya.
“When we switched security lights on, the leopard took off and fled and disappeared into the darkness leave behind seven sheep dead.”
Villagers in this particular village reported that the latest attack brings to 15the number of sheep killed by wild animals in this area in the last two months..
Another farmer, Patrick Kamau, said last month, the stay leopard killed five sheep, and three others belonging to his brother. The farmer bitterly complained that they have reported the three incidents to the Kenya Wildlife Services by so far no compensation has been paid out.
In Kajiado district several Maasai morans were admitted at the various hospitals for treatment following a fight with KWS game rangers. The Maasais had mobilized armed themselves and went on hunting spree against wild animals following the death of one herds boy who was gored to death by a rogue bull of buffalo in Tsavo West National Game Park, not far away fro the Kenya-Tanzania borders. The Maasis avenged and killed several elephants which they speared to death before the combined reinforcement police and are rangers arrived.
Meanwhile a farmer in Kapsoo in Baringo County is counting loses after his highly prized dairy cows were struck dead by lightning following late afternoon downpour I the area.
According to a herds boy who witnessed the Monday evening incident, there was heavy rains accompanied by thunder and lightning.
“It occurred at around 6 pm local time and the cows were sheltering under trees. Lightning struck when I was just preparing to milk the cows,” said Peter Koech
Koech recounted that immediately after the incident, heavy smoke covered the scene. He rushed to inform the owner of the animals as neighbors thronged the scene. He said he was lucky to have survived the ordeal that occurred only a few meters fro where he was standing.
A family member said the incident was a major loss because the four cows were the only source of their livelihood. The cows were purchased with the money borrowed from a government financial agency which is funding farmers with loan money on easy repayment terms. The four dead cows were valued at Kshs 200,000 and those left are three orphanage valves.
Ends