Residents of Sholinke were thrown into panic on Wednesday after two lionesses from Nairobi National Park were spotted outside the park, roughly 8km from its boundary.
The Kenya Wildlife Service issued a public advisory urging locals to remain calm, avoid the area, and report sightings through toll-free lines as rangers and veterinary teams worked to safely dart and relocate the big cats.
“This is an ongoing operation with public safety as our top priority,” KWS said, providing the latest coordinates of the animals. Officers and police were deployed to manage crowds and ensure the area remained secure.
Incidents of lions straying from Nairobi National Park are not new.
Previous cases include lions venturing into Kitengela in 2019, a lion stuck near Tuskys in Ongata Rongai in 2021, and occasional sightings in nearby settlements since 2016.
The park, the world’s only protected wildlife reserve adjacent to a major city, spans 117 square kilometres and houses lions, leopards, rhinos, gazelles, and buffalo. Its partial electric fencing allows traditional wildlife migration but does not fully prevent escapes.
KWS has highlighted ongoing challenges in managing Nairobi National Park, including habitat loss, poaching, human-wildlife conflicts, invasive species, pollution, urbanisation, and infrastructure development.
Plans are underway to enhance the park with improved fencing, a high-end ecolodge, adventure activity concessions, and upgrades to the KWS Club House.
by GILBERT KOECH
