The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) has confirmed that two lionesses which wandered out of Nairobi National Park into Sholinke Market in Rongai on Wednesday, January 7, have been safely recaptured and reunited with their pride.
The lionesses, which had wandered into human settlement areas, were tracked down through a combined effort involving KWS rangers, veterinary teams, and members of the Rongai community on the very same day.
In an exclusive phone interview with Kenyans.co.ke, KWS Lead Conservation Technology Officer Victor Matsanza, he revealed that the lions were captured and safely driven back to the pack.
He disclosed that one of the lionesses was collared, which significantly eased the tracking process.
"Collaring involves fitting animals with ear tags and transmitters that use GPS or satellite technology to enhance surveillance and provide precise location data," he explained.
The operation saw rangers conducting intense tracking operations, some extending overnight, on foot and by vehicle.
Matsanza emphasized the crucial role played by local communities in wildlife management.
"Local communities and conservancy teams often provide vital early warnings and information about straying animals, facilitating quicker responses," he stated.
KWS deployed advanced conservation technology during the rescue mission, including the Earth Ranger system, which is also used to determine animal populations in conservancies.
KWS further deployed drones for real-time surveillance across vast areas, a move that played a key role in tracking down the cubs.
He, however, pointed out a major hurdle in wildlife monitoring nationwide, explaining that tracking collars are fitted only on selected lion prides and elephant herds because of high costs, with each collar priced at between Ksh800,000 and Ksh1 million.
"This means that not all animals within a conservancy can afford to be collared, which sometimes makes tracking difficult," Victor added.
The lionesses are now back in their pride, with the KWS team closely monitoring them to ensure the safety of both humans and wildlife in the area.
