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Mohawk the lion, one of Kenya’s most famous big cats, was fatally shot Wednesday by wildlife rangers. In a country that has invested millions in protecting its wildlife, Kenyans are trying to figure out what went wrong.
Mohawk, a 13-year-old male, who got his name from the shape of his mane, was Kenya’s a tourist favourite at Nairobi National Park, the New York Times reports.
Wildlife services were called on Wednesday to Isinya, a town nearly 60km south of Nairobi, where they were meant to tranquilise and capture Mohawk to take him away from the township.
A wildlife service spokesman told the Washington Post the initial team to arrive were not equipped with tranquilisers, only rifles, and had to try and keep the lion at bay until the team with the sedative arrived.
The officers caught the attention of people nearby and as many as 400 people gathered around to observe Mohawk, the Associated Press reports.
As the masses of people got too close to the lion, Mohawk became unsettled and lashed out at one of the onlookers, leaving the officers no choice but to shoot the lion to “avert injuries or, at worst, deaths”.
A 27-year-old man who was on a motorcycle was struck by the lion and sustained bruises and deep cuts on his back, the Associated Press reports.
Mohawk, who was born and raised in Nairobi National Park, had recently been involved in territorial stand-offs with other lions.
The wildlife service said their action to kill the lion was “a last resort”.
“We wish to assure the public that we remain true and committed to serving and protecting our wildlife resources,” it said on Twitter.
“Our number-one focus has and will always be conserving our wildlife for Kenyans and the world as a whole.”
Agencies/Canadajournal
