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Two lions have escaped from Nairobi’s national park and meandered into “highly populated” areas of the Kenyan capital and wildlife rangers are hunting for the lions.
On Friday, Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) issued an appeal, “for help to get two lionesses that strayed from the Nairobi National Park.”
Armed rangers, as well as KWS vets with dart guns, scoured bush and agricultural land alongside the Kibera district, one of Africa’s largest slums.
“Lions are dangerous wild animals. Avoid provoking the lions by confronting them,” said KWS spokesman Paul Udoto.
Local media reported as many as six lions might be on the loose. It is not the first time lions have prowled into town.
The big cats are under growing pressure as one of Africa’s fastest growing cities creeps onto ancient migration routes and hunting grounds. Sometimes the lions are killed by livestock farmers protecting their herds, other times they prowl leafy gardens giving residents a fright.
Udoto added:
“These are highly populated areas and that is why we are intensifying the search. Anyone with information about them should share it with us immediately.”