A man was fatally attacked by a lion near the Shimba Hills National Reserve in southern Kenya while riding his motorcycle on Monday, January 1, 2024.
The incident came to light after community members found an unattended motorcycle near the forested Marere region, adjacent to the Shimba Hills National Reserve, and alerted the local authorities.
The police, upon investigating, discovered lion tracks leading from the motorcycle to a thicket nearby. They found the remains of the man, whose identity is still unknown, at the location.
The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), informed about the incident, joined the investigation and assisted in the recovery of the remains.
The victim is suspected to be a resident of the vicinity.
Over the years, Kenya’s lion population has dwindled mainly because of human-wildlife conflicts. The Kenyan government, recognizing the severity of the situation, classified lions as endangered in 2010 when their numbers were around 2,000. Recent estimates suggest a slight increase, with the population now around 2,489.
This occurrence underscores the difficulties in managing human-wildlife interactions, especially in areas adjacent to wildlife reserves. The Kenya Wildlife Service has developed a rapid response unit, the Problem Animal Management Unit (PAMU), to mitigate such conflicts. PAMU works closely with affected communities, constantly monitoring and addressing emerging conflicts to foster coexistence and reduce the risk of similar incidents.
Increased human-wildlife conflict has been linked to climate change and recent prolonged drought by KWS. As wild animals venture into human habitats in search of water and pasture, encounters between wildlife and humans have become more common.