Around 9 p.m. on Wednesday, Loonkito, a male lion, was speared by herders in Olkelunyiet village after he attacked livestock. In the direction of Kimana town, the settlement borders the Amboseli National Park.

Reliable sources who spoke with the Nation claim that the elderly, weak lion entered the village from the park in quest of food. According to legend, the lion travelled by himself after leaving the pride he had guarded.

Prior to 2017, when he started to live a solitary life, Loonkito presided over a sizable pride of females and pups. His brother Ambogga passed away in a conflict over territory in 2017. Loonkito was seriously hurt himself. He has been battling to protect his family and his territory ever since.

“The animal entered the cowshed around 9pm and the owners attacked him with spears before he attacked the animals. It was weak due to old age and succumbed to the spear wounds in its head,” said a source.

Also read Amboseli National Park: Kenya’s Most Popular Park

No human or domestic animal was injured during the scuffle, which lasted less than 15 minutes.

The carcass was collected by the Kenya Wildlife Services (KWS).

Mr Daniel Sampu, the senior coordinator, Predator Compensation at Big Life Foundation, said the killing of the lion signified intense human-wildlife conflict in the Amboseli wildlife corridor.