The teenager’s remains were discovered shortly after the devastating attack
A heartbreaking incident has unfolded in Kenya, where a 14-year-old girl was killed by a lion after being snatched from a ranch near Nairobi National Park.
According to officials from the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), the teen had been walking near the southern end of the park on Saturday, April 19, when she was taken by the predator from within a residential compound.
Nairobi National Park is known for housing a wide range of wildlife, including lions, giraffes, leopards, crocodiles, and buffalos, as noted on the KWS website.
Because the park is located just six miles outside the heart of Nairobi, it’s a major draw for tourists. Its proximity to the city makes it one of the most unique wildlife parks in the world.
While most of the park is surrounded by fencing to protect people and animals alike, the southern side is intentionally left open so animals can roam freely across the plains.
KWS stated that after the girl was attacked and dragged away, another teenager who witnessed the horrifying scene quickly raised the alarm and contacted local authorities for help.
The lion snatched the girl from a residential compound on the park Gerald Anderson/Anadolu via Getty Images
Wildlife rangers and response teams from KWS were quickly dispatched. They followed a trail of bloodstains that led them to the Mbagathi River. There, they found the girl's body, which had visible injuries on her lower back.
Although the lion responsible for the attack wasn’t located at the time, officials confirmed that traps have been set up in the area and search teams are actively looking for the animal.
The BBC noted that while lions in Kenya do occasionally come into contact with humans, fatal attacks like this one are considered extremely rare.
KWS has said that new security measures are now being put in place to prevent something like this from happening again.
Tragically, this wasn’t the only recent human-wildlife encounter. On Friday, April 18 just one day earlier—a 54-year-old man was killed by an elephant while grazing livestock in Nyeri County.
He was taken to the hospital but sadly passed away after suffering fractured ribs, internal injuries, and severe trauma to his chest.
The agency also reported a 54-year-old man being killed by an elephant Gerald Anderson/Anadolu via Getty Images
"KWS conveys its heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and continues to work closely with local law enforcement and communities to enhance the safety of people living near protected wildlife areas." the agency shared in a statement.
As reported by CNN, the wildlife authority said that both tragic incidents show how important it is to continue investing in ways to reduce human-wildlife conflict. This includes things like early warning systems, better coordination with local communities, and other strategic safety measures.
Paula Kahumbu, the CEO of conservation group WildlifeDirect, also weighed in. She urged KWS to step up their efforts in assessing risk and to make sure that real-time updates about animal movements and behavior are clearly communicated especially in high-risk areas like Savannah Ranch, where the teen girl lost her life, according to the BBC.
She also recommended that lodges, camps, and nearby homes be outfitted with systems to deter predators such as alarms, motion-activated lights, reinforced fences, and even special predator-repelling sprays.
