Six lions of the same pride at the Oleisukut Conservancy in Maasai Mara were treated for poisoning, just days after the Kenya Wildlife Service opened its doors to national parks for free to commemorate World Tourism Day on September 27.
In a statement on Monday morning, KWS relayed that the six lions had been spotted showing signs of poisoning, after which the veterinary staff stepped up to start treatment and relocate them.
In images and videos seen by Kenyans.co.ke, the lions were captured looking drowsy in their natural habitat, raising concerns over their well-being.
After treatment, however, four have since fully recovered, while the other two remain under monitoring.
"Six lions in Oleisukut Conservancy - Maasai Mara, were reported showing signs of poisoning. Our veterinary team responded swiftly, administering emergency treatment, stabilising the pride, and relocating them to safety," the statement read in part.
"Thankfully, all six survived - four have fully recovered while two remain under close monitoring. Kenya Wildlife Service remains steadfast in its mandate to conserve and protect Kenya’s iconic species."
However, the cause of the poisoning has yet to be determined, although investigations are ongoing, as well as the continuous monitoring of the pride.
"We reaffirm our commitment to safeguarding our wildlife heritage for current and future generations," KWS declared.
This development comes just a month after the famous wildebeest migration from the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania to the Maasai Mara National Reserve was interrupted by eager tourists, disorienting them.
In clips that went viral on August 20, tourists, who were meant to be in their safari vans, were seen disregarding park regulations and running to take photos of the animals, thereby blocking them and forcing others to scatter back into the crocodile-infested Mara River.
In the aftermath of the ordeal, Tourism and Wildlife Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Miano and the County Government of Narok, which manages the reserve, clarified that the incident took less than a minute and that the tourists were shooed back to their vehicles moments after.
The county government further denied reports that some park rangers had been bribed to allow them to leave their vehicles, asserting that the vehicles had been parked at a viewing point where tourists can leave their vehicles in the company of guards to view hippos or use the toilet services in the area.
The CS, however, noted that measures were already being put in place to ensure a similar incident does not recur.
