A school in Kaseveni in Malaa, Machakos County has introduced hyena lessons to its curriculum as a means to sensitize the students on how to mitigate against hyena attacks.
Speaking during the commissioning of the school on Monday, Chrisphine Oluoch, the school’s administrator elaborated that the lessons were necessary as it is located in an area prone to hyena attacks
Residents of the area have confirmed that they have experienced numerous attacks from the animals owing to their proximity to the Oldonyo Sabuk National Park.
According to the school’s administrator, one of the key lessons within the curriculum will be to teach the pupils how to differentiate hyenas from dogs.
The administrator confirmed that the failure to differentiate the animals was one of the factors that could have contributed to the attack on the young students.
Moreover, the students will also learn how to avoid attacks and what to do in the event they face such situations.
“We took the initiative after learning that many children could not differentiate between hyenas and dogs to enable them to understand how they look like, how to avoid attacks and what to do when they face them,” said Oluoch the school administrator.
Parents within the region, have lauded the initiative stating that they have been living in fear for the safety of their children on their way to and from school.
“Anyone who has lived in this area has a story about a hyena attack on their livestock and also relatives. The animals come in large numbers and some are big and dangerous. We have fought them but it seems they can’t go away. We now have to learn how to live with them,” explained one of the parents.
The attacks by hyenas have been part of a rising scourge, with residents of various areas such as Juja and Rongai lamenting after killings and attacks by the animals.
Students from Multimedia University in Rongai staged protests on February 6, after one of their colleagues was attacked by a hyena and eventually maimed.
However, on Tuesday, April 2, KWS confirmed having captured one hyena in Juja in an Operation by Kenya Wildlife Service dubbed “Ondoa Fisi”.
