The Narok County government has dismissed reports published by The Sunday Standard about the cause of death of a popular lion in Maasai Mara, terming them misleading and inaccurate.
In the statement issued on October 22, the county government stated that a lion known as Oloshipa died after sustaining injuries during a territorial fight with other lions.
"Oloshipa died last week due to injuries sustained in a territorial fight with other lions, a natural occurrence in the wild, and not due to poisoning or any mysterious circumstances," part of the statement reads.
Officials said that death was not caused by poisoning or any mysterious conditions as reported.
It condemned the article titled Outrage as Maasai Mara Lions Die Under Mysterious Conditions, stating it was published without verification of facts from authorities such as the Kenya Wildlife Service, Maasai Mara Management and the County Veterinary Unit, which handles wildlife emergencies.
The county also stated that the person quoted in the article was previously prohibited from participating in conservation activities in the area.
In the statement, the county official was banned from carrying out activities in the area after he was found soliciting funds through false wildlife crises.
"The individual quoted in the article is a known figure banned from conservation activities in the area for creating false wildlife crises to solicit funds. Despite numerous interventions, he has never provided financial or material support to our ground teams."
"Instead, his actions have incited hostility against local Maasai guides and staff, many of whom now face death threats," it added.
According to county officials, the photos used in publications were old, recycled and misleading.
The county also urged the media to report accurate information and refrain from getting information from unverified sources from organisations.
"We urge the media to report responsibly and refrain from legitimizing individuals who exploit Kenya's wildlife for personal gain. The Maasai Mara remains professionally managed, safe, and protected by our dedicated teams," it added.
