Pastoralists on Saturday, May 13, 2023, killed at least six lions at Imbirikani village, Loitoktok, Kajiado South.
In what seemed to be a retaliation attack, angry herdsmen speared to death five lions and a cab.
The villagers followed the footprints of the lions which had killed 12 sheep and a dog at a home belonging to Nkala Ole Kataka the previous night. They traced the six animals within Big Life Foundation conservancy headquarters and killed them.
The angry villagers speared the lions after overpowering Kenya Wildlife Services (KWS) and Kenya Police Service officers.
In a statement, Big Life Foundation has described the situation as unfortunate saying the attackers were about 80 and volatile.
They said the herders gained entry into the conservancy by destroying the fence while KWS officers were keeping vigil to ensure human safety awaiting to evacuate the animals to safety.
Three lions had been caged according to the foundation.
"A crowd continued to build and tensions spilled over when a group of 60 to 80 people broke through the compound. Big life would have risked escalation of the extremely volatile situation and likely human injury and death," part of the statement reads.
The Foundation further stated that the matter has already been taken up by KWS and Kenya Police for further investigations.
"We are committed to the well-being of human beings and animals with Amboseli National Ecosystem and such incidents are a big setback to our efforts aimed at facilitating co-existence between humans and wildlife," the statement further reads.
The killing comes barely three days after Amboseli National Park's oldest and most popular lion was killed by herdsmen after raiding a home preying on livestock.
The murder of the lion popularly known as Loonkito,19, sparked reactions on social media in what conservatism describes as a clear indication of heightened human-wildlife conflicts.
Elsewhere KWS officers have intensified patrols in areas bordering Nairobi National Park following increased cases of zebra poaching.
