A 14-year-old girl was killed in a horrifying lion attack near Nairobi National Park, sparking renewed concerns over rising human-wildlife conflict in Kenya.
The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) confirmed that the fatal incident occurred on a ranch bordering the park’s southern edge.
The lioness reportedly attacked the girl while she was within the vicinity of the property. The exact details surrounding the attack remain unclear, but investigations are currently underway.
This tragedy comes amid increasing reports of wild animals straying into residential areas in Tuala and Ongata Rongai, neighboring the iconic park.
Local residents have raised alarms over frequent sightings of lions roaming dangerously close to homesteads.
In a separate incident in Nyeri County, a 54-year-old man was killed by an elephant, adding to the growing list of fatalities linked to wildlife encounters in recent months.
KWS acknowledged both incidents, expressing its deep condolences to the affected families and vowing swift action.
“Our rapid response teams are on the ground to manage the situations and ensure no further loss of life,” said a KWS spokesperson.
The twin tragedies have reignited calls from conservationists and community leaders for stronger human-wildlife conflict mitigation measures.
Among the proposed solutions are improved fencing around protected areas, real-time animal tracking systems, and increased public awareness campaigns.
