At least six lions and 34 vultures have died from suspected poisoning around Amboseli National Park, with such cases confirmed by officials from both Kenya and Tanzania.
According to preliminary reports, the animals in question were those that were being fed by a cow carcass laced with poison in the Kitenden region bordering Kenya and Tanzania. This is just an incident that shook the entire conservation circle. It is reported to have taken place on 7th January. It was identified as one of the worst forms of poisoning in the entire Amboseli ecosystem.
Investigation into the incident by the Kenyan Wildlife Service, KWS, and the Tanzanian wildlife authorities is ongoing in an attempt to identify the reasons behind the poisoning of the tame beasts and ensure that more are not lost. It is alleged that two suspects in Tanzania are under observation, although there are no confirmed arrests.
Experts state that such poisoning cases have other impacts since they lead to the killing of predators and scavengers to disturb ecological balances.
They have asked the locals and visitors to be on the lookout and alert others about suspicious activities exhibited along the wildlife corridors. They said the wildlife found in the Amboseli ecosystem belongs to the whole of both countries since they include some of the greatest wildlife corridors in the world.
This is not the first time that poisoning has been suspected to have happened in the region. In September of last year, there was an incident at the Oleisukut Conservancy in Maasai Mara, where six lions had to be treated by veterinarians from the KWS due to suspected poisoning. They were treated successfully and relocated. Still, there seemed to be an underlying threat here to the wildlife due to human interference.
In Kenya, under the Wildlife Conservation and Management Act of 2013, poisoning or damaging protected species such as lions and vultures is considered an offense. The offender faces a fine of up to Ksh10 million or a maximum of 20 years in jail or both.
However, conservationists emphasize the importance of protecting the affected animals from such deliberate assaults in the efforts to protect the natural resources of Kenya.