At least two phallus of Kenya ’s most renowned lion pride have died as a effect of poisoning , with a further five currently being care for by vets and another missing . Two local herders have been arrested and shoot down in coition to the incident , mark the first ever prosecutions for wildlife poisoning in the country .
The accuse are believe to have on purpose infect a cow carcase with pesticide , which they then left lying around in a region inhabited by theMarsh superbia , known across the populace for appearing in the BBC ’s Big Cat Diary between 1996 and 2008 . Among the victim is 17 - year - sometime lioness Bibi , who was discovered “ sparkle at the mouth , meet and trousering ” by BBC wildlife cinematographer Mark MacEwan last Sunday , 6 December .
The other drained king of beasts is yet to be identified , after having been disfigured beyond acknowledgement by scavenge hyenas and piranha , some of which have also since died . A lioness nominate Sienna is presently miss , with Wildlife Direct primary executive Dr Paula Kahumbu remark on herFacebookpage that “ it ’s possible that others have died but [ their ] body not find . ”
@BBCOne@BBCNewsBibi the older lion from prominent cat diary marsh pridefulness has died due to toxic condition , words ca n’t describepic.twitter.com/8E0i2zAUOO
— Mark MacEwen ( @MacEwenMark)December 7 , 2015
BBC Cameraman Mark MacEwan twinge this picture of Marsh superbia lioness Bibi , who break down after eating poisoned meat . Twitter / Mark MacEwan
Quoted inNational Geographic , Marsh pride expert Jonathan Scott explained that conflicts between lions and Masai herdsman have increased in late years , mostly thanks to government - led changes to traditional land usance systems . Whereas the Masai had previously led a mobile lifestyle with no fixed land ownership , the conception of in private possess plots of Edwin Herbert Land around the margin of theMasai Marareserve has seen many herders finalise with their stock in the region .
However , as cattle herd have outgrown these low plot , illegal grazing within the confines of the substitute has become increasingly widespread , with “ ten of thousands ” of cattle being herded into the lions ’ soil at night , when no holidaymaker are around . Yet since Lion are principally nocturnal hunter , they have begin preying on the Masai ’s animals , often prompting herdsmen to retaliate against them
According to Scott’sblog , “ toxicant has become a major threat to our wildlife ” , and has make considerable damage not only to the Marsh pride but a act of other local specie , including the 53 types of birds of prey which inhabit the reserve . Until now , the utilisation of toxic substances to bump off animals has gone for the most part unpunished , yet conservationist such as Kahumbu are bright that the prosecution of the men responsible for for this later plan of attack will set a potent new common law .
However , poisonous substance is far from the only menace posed by local ranchers to the Marsh pride , with Scott claim that the Panthera leo ’ territory has been “ acquire over by herdsmen who stream all over it at night ” . As a event , the pride has been largely driven from its former hunting and breeding grounds , which include the Marsh and a watercourse called Bila Shaka – which means “ without fail ” in Swahili , in credit to the fact that the Panthera leo could always be found by safari guides at this spot .
Thanks to the increase invasion of adjudicate Masai tribesmen and their cattle , though , Scott keen that “ the bottom line is that there is no longer a Marsh pride . ”
