Three in hospital after clash with lions
KWS officers load six lions killed by Kitengela residents after they mauled 28 livestock June 20,2012. Three people are admitted to hospital with serious injuries after confrontation with a pride of lions that had mauled a cow in Loitokitok June 28, 2012. FILE
Three people are admitted to hospital with serious injuries after confrontation with a pride of lions that had mauled a cow in Loitokitok Thursday night.
One of the lions was killed as the Maasai herdsmen pursued the beasts that had killed a cow at around 7pm in the Elangata Ngima area of Kuku Group Ranch in Loitokitok.
The three seriously injured during the clash and are recuperating at the Loitokitok Hospital.
The incident comes just a week after Kitengela residents killed six lions that had entered a homestead and mauled 28 livestock in an increasing wave of human-wildlife conflict.
Elsewhere, a suspected poacher was killed during a fierce gunfight with Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) rangers at the Laikipia Nature Conservancy.
Respond to gunshots
An AK 47 rifle was recovered at the scene while his accomplice escaped with injuries.
The rangers were responding to gunshots within the ranch when they encountered two suspected poachers.
They are looking for an elephant that was injured by the suspected poachers.
A major hunt for the suspect who fled is also underway.
At the same time, a lion which had strayed from the same conservancy and had been roaming in Baringo County is still being monitored by KWS team of rangers and capture personnel.
It is currently at Loruk area near Lake Baringo.
KWS appealed to the public to volunteer information when they encounter wild animals.
"We call upon members of the public to desist from killing wild animals and instead report to KWS as wild animals can be very dangerous," said KWS in a statement.
