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June 7, 2023 | 11:55 p.m
Parkeru Ntereka lost nearly half his herd of goats to hungry lions that wandered into his enclosure near Kenya’s famous Amboseli National Park.
The loss of the 56-year-old made headlines in the east African country as it resulted in the Maasai people, who have lived alongside wild animals for centuries, killing six lions in retaliation.
The killings highlighted growing human-animal conflict in parts of East Africa, which conservationists say has been exacerbated by years of drought.
At the same time, the predator population has increased within the parks. Hunger and thirst can send them into communities.
Ntereka said the loss of twelve goats is a great loss to his large family.
“I am selling this cattle to pay school fees. “I don’t know how I’m going to pay the high school fees for some of my kids,” said the father of eight.
The Big Life Foundation, which runs conservation programs in the area, is offering compensation to herders who lose their livestock to predators.
However, the compensation does not correspond to the market price for cows, goats and sheep.
Herder Joel Kirimbu said the remuneration should be in line with the market price.
The Maasai killed six lions in retaliation.AP
“Cows are expensive and can cost as much as $577 a head. You can’t compare 80,000 shillings with 30,000 shillings. We get very little compensation. So we get angry and despite our compensation, we come out and kill the lions,” he told The Associated Press.
Rosi Lekimankusi, a mother of five, said 13 of her goats were killed by lions in the same village, Mbirikani in Kajiado County, just 93 miles from the capital Nairobi.
“This is a huge loss for us because my husband and I have no other jobs,” she told The Associated Press while standing in front of her goat pen.
Her biggest fear is that such lion attacks will become even more common in her Maasai village, which borders Amboseli National Park.
The Big Life Foundation, which has been running the compensation program for 20 years, said it cannot afford to pay the market price but stressed that the amount should not be disregarded as it at least shows their solidarity with the shepherds for theirs express loss.
“It might be a little just to make sure the anger subsides, but it’s better than nothing,” said Daniel Ole Sambu, who coordinates the foundation’s predator protection program.
He said the foundation also provides community scholarships for local children and supports medical facilities.
Human-animal conflict often grabs headlines in Kenya, where tourism plays an important role in the economy.
Last month, one of Kenya’s oldest lions, Loonkiito, was speared while leaving Amboseli National Park in search of food.
Rosi Lekimankusi, a mother of five, said 13 of her goats were killed by lions in the same village, Mbirikani in Kajiado County, just 93 miles from the capital Nairobi, according to Jam Press
The Kenya Wildlife Service said it was working on lasting solutions that would address the conflict while protecting both people and wildlife.
Ntereka, the herdsman who lost almost half his goats, lives in fear of another lion attack.
“We have always believed that if a lion enters your home and eats your cows, it will still come back ten years later. You will never forget that your home was once a source of sustenance,” he said.
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