NAIROBI — A 14-year-old girl was killed by a lion on the outskirts of Nairobi, according to a statement issued by the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) on Sunday.
The girl was reportedly taken from a residential compound on a ranch adjacent to Nairobi National Park. KWS said rangers were alerted by another teenager who witnessed the incident and immediately tracked the lion’s footprints to the nearby Mbagathi River, where they discovered the remains of the primary school student.
The lion responsible for the attack has not yet been located, but KWS said search teams have been deployed and traps set to capture the animal. Additional security measures are also being implemented in the area to prevent further incidents.
Nairobi National Park, located just 10 kilometers (six miles) from the city center, is home to a wide range of wildlife including lions, buffalo, giraffes, leopards, and cheetahs. The park is fenced on three sides but remains open to the south to allow for wildlife migration, which occasionally leads to human-wildlife conflicts.
Although lion attacks on people are rare, conflicts between predators and humans — particularly over livestock — do occur in Kenya. Last year, CCTV footage showed a lion snatching a dog from a home near the park.
In a separate incident on Saturday, KWS confirmed that a 54-year-old man was killed by an elephant in Nyeri County, about 130 kilometers (80 miles) north of Nairobi. The man was attacked while the elephant was grazing in Mere Forest. He sustained multiple injuries and died in hospital.
Dr. Paula Kahumbu, CEO of WildlifeDirect, emphasized that these incidents are not isolated and urged KWS to enhance risk assessments and improve real-time monitoring and communication about wildlife movement, particularly in high-risk zones like Savannah Ranch, where the teenager was killed.
“All lodges, camps, and residences near wildlife areas should be equipped with anti-predator deterrents—lights, alarms, secure fencing, and sprays,” Kahumbu added. “Prevention is our first and best line of defense.” — Agencies
