Other male lion coalitions from Masai Mara

[Tshokwane]

Paul Udoto:
For Immediate Release

December 11 2015

RE: Update III on lion poisoning in the Mara and new cases in Kajiado

Kenya Wildlife Service would like to notify the public that no further deaths of wild animals in the Maasai Mara have been reported from the continuing monitoring of the ecosystem.

This follows the deaths of three lions due to suspected poisoning at the weekend. Samples have since been sent to the Government Chemist for analysis and we await the results to conclusively determine the chemical used.

A Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) veterinary doctor conducted the post mortem examinations on the lion carcasses in the presence of scene of crime officers and collected the samples. 
The remnants of the carcasses were incinerated and buried to prevent possible consumption by other animals. 
At the same time, two suspects were remanded in police custody on Tuesday for two weeks by a Narok court to facilitate investigations. 
The three dead lions were members of the internationally famous Marsh lion pride featured in the popular BBC television series "Big Cat Diary" which aired from 1996 to 2008. 
Meanwhile, carcasses of a lioness and her two cubs from the Mukururo pride were found this morning by a joint KWS and conservation non-governmental organisation Big Life team at Noomau, Mukururo area of Kajiado, two kilometers from Chyullu Hills National Park. 
They were suspected to have been poisoned from observing their body condition. This informed the KWS/Big Life’s decision to burn and bury the carcasses as a precaution to prevent possible spread of poison effects on other animals. 
The lioness known as Mbalueni and her cubs were part of a pride comprising a mature male, three other females and two other cubs. Members of the pride have not been sighted. 
Earlier in the week on Tuesday and Wednesday, the public reported four to five carcasses of cows suspected to have been killed by lions. 
KWS and a local non-governmental organisation Big Life are pursuing suspects as well as the missing lion pride members. 
Kenya Wildlife Service would like to appeal to the public to report cases of lions killing their livestock nearest government offices. They should not resort to poisoning because this is not only a crime but also endangers more livestock and people as well as other animals in the ecosystem. Poisoning is also likely to contaminate livestock grazing areas and water points. Reply