Kenyan authorities kill six lions, putting damper on conservation efforts

An attack on conservation efforts and the tourism sector, a major pillar of the country’s economy, has resulted in the killing of six lions in a national park in southern Kenya.

The lions were slain, according to the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), after they attacked goats and a dog in close proximity to villages near the Amboseli National Park.

As four other lions have been slain in the past week, KWS stated in a statement on Saturday that “unfortunately this is not an isolated incident.”

KWS stated that its representatives had a meeting with the neighborhood to try to resolve repeated issues between the animals and the residents, but it did not specify what had been decided.

The killing of livestock and domestic animals by lions and other carnivores is a frequent complaint from locals near nature reserves in Kenya as humans and wildlife battle for space and resources.

Some of the most sought-after wildlife, including as elephants, cheetahs, buffalos, and giraffes, may be found in the 39,206-hectare Amboseli National Park.

Reuters