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Lions Kill 3 Cows

Category: Lions, West Gate Community Conservancy | Date: Jan 16 2009 | By: ewasolions

During my regular monitoring of the Conservation Area in West Gate Conservancy,we saw a Samburu elder in the distance who appeared to be walking around keenly searching for something.

I turned off the engine and we walked towards him asking if there was any problem and the reason he was in the Conservation Area at 6:15 am.  He said that during the night, 15 cows had wandered across the river into the Conservation Area.  Three of those cows had been killed by lions at 5:30 am - not long before we arrived.  He was in the process of looking for the other lost cows.

I alerted the community scouts via the security radio and they soon arrived to assist with looking for the cows and also to investigate the lion killings.  We walked around and the elder showed us the 3 cows that the lions had killed.

dead-cow.jpg

Cow killed by lion

It was clear from the tracks and the layout of where the lions had killed the cows, that there were 3 lions who had killed the 3 cows.  They had dragged off most of the first cow and we were unable to find the remains initially. Later on, we found the head and body stashed in a thick bush.   The second cow had been eaten partially, mainly at the rear and it was clear that the lions had eaten most of the third cow.

looking-at-the-eaten-cow.jpg

Ricila, Ewaso Lions tracker, looks at the remains of the eaten bull

Eventually the community scouts and the Samburu elder found the lost cows and they were herded back across the river.  The elder was not happy at all as he had lost approximately Kenya Shillings 100,000 ($1300) as a result of this incidence.   Two of the cows killed also had young calves back in the village and he was concerned about their survival.

The scouts monitored and patrolled the Conservation Area for the rest of the day to ensure that livestock did not wander in again and also to ensure that the lions were protected in this small area.

That evening the elders from the village where the cows had come from, returned to cut up the remains of the cows and roast the meat.  Donkeys arrived late in the night to transport all the meat back to the village.

I returned the following morning and all that remained from this conflict incidence, were many vultures and marabou storks feeding on the few remains of the cows.


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8 Responses to “Lions Kill 3 Cows”

Jan Goss, on 16 Jan 2009

Shivani:

I have a very hard time feeling sorry for this man. He has cattle which he may or may not have purchased. He may have bred many of them himself which cost him nothing. He didn’t have to buy formula for the calves, didn’t have to buy grain and hay for the adults. He has just let them forage for anything green they could find. Then he doesn’t ensure their safey by locking them in a boma at night and/or doesn’t leave someone to guard them.

Then the cattle wander off across the river, into a reserve for wildlife, and when the lions get a good steak dinner he is upset and wants to blame the lions?

Where does his responsibility lie? I just hope and pray he doesn’t retaliate against the lions for something that was truly his fault.

ewasolions, on 17 Jan 2009

Hi Jan
Thanks for your comments. I definitely agree with you - the fact that the cattle were allowed to wander across with no one to look after them -they were basically asking for trouble. All cows actually went to sleep at night (we found their sleeping area) and the lions basically stumbled across sleeping cows.
The community scouts are doing a fantastic job of keeping the wildlife safe in the area and I am monitoring the Conservation Area lions as much as possible to keep tabs on them. The problem is actually seeing them however - they are so nervous and spend most of their days hiding in the bushes.
I’ll keep you posted,
Shivani

Jan Goss, on 17 Jan 2009

Shivani:

When you speak of “Conservation Area” are you speaking of the areas outside of Samburu Reserve?

I know when I’ve been in Samburu before you often easily saw the lions, and they often came close to the vehicles. Thus does it mean that those in the Reserve are more trusting and more easily seen than those outside the Reserve? Or have those within the Reserve gotten more nervous and now hide and shy away from humans?

Annie, on 17 Jan 2009

difficult situation..the people need their cattle to survive and the lions have their natural born preying instincts to kill and eat to survive..I still thing the responsibility lies with the cattlemen to keep them away the best they can from the lions..not sure what the answer is here but know you guys are doing all you can thanks! Many blessings to you in ‘09!

Nakedi, on 19 Jan 2009

Hi Shavani,
I can imagine you have your hands full trying calm everybody down after the recent incident. I am wondering if you are familiar with Bernard Kissui who has similar problems and operating in Tarangire National Park. He recently lost some study animals, one of which was collared to retaliation by people. Paul should have his contact details for you.

Good luck and keep up the good work,
Nakedi

ewasolions, on 19 Jan 2009

Hi Jan and Annie,
Thanks for your comments!

The Conservation Area is within West Gate Community Conservancy (WGCC) which is outside Samburu National Reserve - basically on the western boundary. Within WGCC, there is a small area that has been set aside purely for wildlife. This is the Conservation Area. Its pretty small but the community scouts are doing a great job making sure that livestock is excluded and the wildlife are safe. We have seen changes only in the past few weeks - more wildlife, lion and leopard sightings, and the eles are back too. So, it was within this Conservation Area that the cows strayed overnight and the lions stumbled across sleeping cows.

Lions here in WGCC are very nervous - not used to cars or people and are always scared because they are often preying on livestock. This is where I am currently working to see what the lion population is like and to see how the communities can live with them.

I’ll keep you posted!

Shivani

sauwah, on 19 Jan 2009

seems to me that livestock owners whose cattle/goats killed/eaten by lions or other predators need some good talking along with stronger bomas. how can any one consider owners who let their livestock wonder freely good? if such livestock were so important, then take good care of it by not letting them out of one’s sight at all time. even without lions or other predators, cows can get hurt or stolen. then what? their old ways are no good any more now and their thinking must be changed if their assets are that important to them.

in short, lions and other predators are the real victims of man’s carelessness, ignorance or even arrogance. let’s not forget, there are over billions of cows in the world of man. and how many wild or free lions we have still?

i know i would be pissed off too if i were that livestock owner. yet if i had someone to talk some sense in me and if i had a clear mind that plays fair, i might change. after all, i would loose more cows, right?

Ewaso Lions » Lioness Kills Donkey, on 25 Jan 2009

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