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How long can this go on…..?

Category: lion research fieldwork | Date: Mar 13 2008 | By: admin

I have really sad news and I’m not sure how to put it. It has not even been ten days since I posted that a lion was killed on Eselenkei….. now two more lions have been killed.

The apparent reason for the killing is that these lions killed two livestock. However, there are contradictory stories about the killings and I am still trying to establish what led to the persecution. We do know there were two female lions speared on the neighboring Olgulului group ranch, which is to the west of our ranch. The lions were actually killed 5km to the east of where we got stuck in the mud in January.

All this killing makes me wonder how many lions will be left in the ecosystem if this rate of slaughtering continues. Something must be done as soon as possible to save the king of the cats.

Below are photographs of the carcasses of the two female lions.

olg1.jpg

This is the second lion that was speared on OLG but died a day later. You can clearly see how her paws were cut off as trophies.

olg2.jpg

Our efforts of conserving lions on Mbirikani ranch will be like putting out a raging forest fire using a fire extinguisher if the people on neighboring group ranches don’t begin to see the value in lions and other wildlife. Lions know no boundaries. When they move to other ranches they get killed, hampering our conservation work. We desperately need to expand the Lion Guardians and other conservation efforts to these areas.

OLG3

23 Responses to “How long can this go on…..?”

sheryl, washington dc, on 13 Mar 2008

Antony, I’m so sorry. It seems that killing lions for trophies is on the rise in your area. Can you step up education efforts with the local people? Explain to them what will happen to their ecosystem without top predators such as lions? It seems to me the punishment for such wildlife crimes should be much stiffer than whatever it is now. This is so disturbing.

s.

Theresa Siskind St Petersburg FL, on 13 Mar 2008

Anthony, I’m struggling to keep my composure right now. I would rather see these lions in a sanctuary, at least they would be safe although not free. Is there a sports hero or musician in Kenya, who might speak out on behalf of the lions? Someone maybe the locals admire and would listen to? There is a musician in the DRC, his name is WERRASON, he has taken up the plight of Bonobos in his country, delivering messages to different tribes to educate the people about the Bonobo. Surely, there must be some celebrity in Kenya, willing to do the same for the lions. If you can think of anybody, let me know, I’ll write to them right away. Another donation is on the way. My heart is very heavy, this has to stop!

Christine C., on 13 Mar 2008

Oh Antony…I am so sorry. This is just dreadful news. I have all the same questions Sheryl does…has someting changed there that has provoked the upswing in trophy kills again? So sad, but please know how much you are supported from very far away.

Dana-Phoenix, Arizona, on 13 Mar 2008

Antony, I too, am so very, very sorry about the killing of these two lioness. Education is the key to protect the wildlife. Please let us know what actually provoked the killing of these lions.

F. J. Pechir, on 13 Mar 2008

Its an obcenity that unbrained, nasty people can do such a coward act against lions. Not only independant programs of conservation must be launched, but the government must act now to prevent more killings. It is really a shame.

F. J. Pechir, on 13 Mar 2008

I´m working now on this problem…

Annie, on 13 Mar 2008

just awful!!!!! Makes me sick!!!! They are natural predators…they cannot help where they have to find food!

Fiona, on 13 Mar 2008

Antony, this is truly devastating news. Is there a compensation plan for neighboring ranches in that, if they prove the cattle were destroyed by lions, they can be reimbursed the cost? I think this might be the first step in limiting the killings. Although the Mara is in trouble at the moment, this compensation seemed to work with the Masai there.

Dipesh Pabari, on 14 Mar 2008

The following press release just came out on Reuters: http://africa.reuters.com/wire/news/usnL14528476.html

Fiona, on 14 Mar 2008

Well at least this is being publicized where a lot of people can read it. The poacher thing seems to click with me for some reason. If the Mara Triangle costs $50,000 a month to protect, what would we be looking at to have that same kind of coverage in this area, with guardians and rangers working together to preserve what’s left of this dwindling lion population.

Do we know if either of the females killed was Nemasi or Nosero?

Pirjo,Finland, on 14 Mar 2008

I must say that does this ever end until the last species of the great wildlife has been driven to extinction? It’ so disheartening to read these news and know that you are doing your best to protect these animals.. Why isn’t Kenyan government doing something about this problem. One should think it’s in their interest to keep the tourist business thriving in the future. Without the lions there isn’t much business left.

Theresa Siskind St Petersburg FL, on 14 Mar 2008

Thanks, Dipesh for this link. I’m still working on the idea of contacting someone to speak on behalf of our lions. Kip Keino comes to mind and I know he has done charitable work in the past, I will try to find an address where I can write to him.

Fiona, on 14 Mar 2008

I’ve set up a very basic fundraiser (for people in the USA). I tried to set one up for the Mara as well, but because Wildlife Direct was already on the books for Lion Guardians, they wouldn’t let me. Anyway, I’m not convinced we can raise a lot of money, but we can raise some. All you need to do is review local businesses. If the business has never been reviewed, we get $1, if it has already, we only get $0.25.
Here’s the link, and please pass it along - thanks! http://www.insiderpages.com/fundraisers/Lion-Guardians

Dipesh Pabari, on 14 Mar 2008

Kip Keino is a possibility (I used to go to school with his son!) but the thing is most of the athletics are very much involved with the post-election humanitarian crises. No harm in trying!

Theresa Siskind St Petersburg FL, on 14 Mar 2008

Dipesh, I’m giving a clue to my age when I tell you I remember watching him compete in the Olympics…of course, I was just a child. He impressed me very much, unlike a lot of today’s athletes. By the way, I learned that on January 23rd, the Kenyan marathon runner Wesley Ngetich was killed by a poisoned arrow in the Trans Mara.

Antony Kasanga, on 15 Mar 2008

Pirjo,
Welcome to our blog, your views and support will count on our work.
I have just some heart breaking news; after the killing of the first lion; two culprits were arrested. They were taken to a district court.
After two weeks they were released on bond worth less $30 each. with killers of this weeks lion killings arrested; we don’t what will happen. I will for sure update you all as they unfold. Theresa, i have a musician i always liked his work. His name is Eric Wainana. I am trying to get hold of him, i will let you know.
Thanks everyone for the comment and support you showing us.

Theresa Siskind St Petersburg FL, on 15 Mar 2008

Released on bond, so they can flee…Anthony, I have learned from researching Kip Keino, that many of these athletes are poor also. Please if you get a hold of this musician, let me know. I will offer him some compensation for his expenses. I participated on Fiona’s fundraiser last night, please EVERYONE go to the link she has provided in this post, it doesn’t cost anything and it helps our guardians! Antony, what is Seamus up to?

Fiona, on 16 Mar 2008

Thanks to everyone who’s helping with the little fundraiser. Anything we make will help, although my goal of $2,000 seems a little lofty now. Please pass the link along to anybody you can think of. I even sent it to a couple of ex boyfriends.

Theresa Siskind St Petersburg FL, on 17 Mar 2008

Fiona, you deserve a lot of credit, every dollar earned, helps. I would do more reviews, but I really don’t go out anymore, most of the places and services I used, where from years ago (except the vets).

Dipesh Pabari, on 18 Mar 2008

U guys are all amazing!

sauwah, on 30 Mar 2008

since the government and its court ( judges ) have shown their lack of care of lions or the law, what about trying shaming on those who kill lions for trophy or excitement or just to pass time? often social pressure works much faster and better than the government. If shame does not work, self image should. unfortunately, both tactics take time. but they sure work just look at smoking on my generation and body fat.

Hardcorp, on 02 Apr 2008

The most interesting is why this lions didn’t protect themselves. Just wonder how many casualties this tribesmen suffer when hunting lions.

Olgulului/Amboseli Lion Consolation Fund Launched | Lion Guardians, on 18 Apr 2008

[…] is the place where the last two lions were speared. Part of the agreement which sparked a lot of murmurs and discontent among the crowd related to […]

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