Kenyan lions kill 1 person grazing livestock in city park
NAIROBI, Kenya — Two lions attacked and killed one person among a group of men grazing cattle in Kenya’s Nairobi National Park at night, police said, highlighting the increasing conflict between wildlife and human communities as the capital city expands.
The group of herders was attacked around 2 a.m. and wardens were able to rescue seven people, said Kenya Wildlife Service ranger Martin Omondi. However, an 18-year-old man was killed by the lions and most of his body was eaten, the report said.
Lion attacks are not common, but as Nairobi is experiencing a boom in apartment and road construction, the city’s expanding population is putting heavy pressure on the wildlife near the city. Nairobi National Park is the only wildlife park in the world that lies within a country’s capital city.
Acting Kenya Wildlife Service Director General Julius Kimani said the men shouldn’t have been grazing cattle in the park, which is restricted, especially at night.