Man Killed by Lions at Nairobi National Park

A herder was mauled by lions on Sunday night at the Nairobi National Park.

Weldon Kirui was in the company of other herdsmen when they were attacked by two lions.

A Kenya Wildlife Service ranger reported that the group was attacked around 2 a.m. and wardens were able to rescue seven people.

Mr Kirui was not lucky to survive as most of his body had already been eaten.

Langata police boss Elijah Mwangi said the remains were taken to the mortuary and the other herders were arrested and detained for illegal grazing within the park.

“When they were attacked by the lions, they screamed for help and by the time KWS officials arrived there the victim had been eaten up.

"The other herders managed to drive away their cattle but they would be charged for illegal grazing within the park,” he said.

Mwangi said some herders have a tendency of grazing their animals within the park at night, which he termed illegal.

Last year in March, KWS officials killed a lion after it strayed from the park and attacked a man.

The officials had planned to capture the animal but decided to shoot it after a mob gathered around the lion.

The recent boom in apartment and road construction coupled with an expanding population centre is putting heavy pressure on Kenya's famed wildlife, especially its big cats.

Nairobi National Park is the only wildlife park in the world that lies within a country's capital city.

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