Earlier this week, seven lions lay lifeless across the open plains of Kitenden, their once-mighty forms silenced by poison intended as retribution for livestock losses.
In the vicinity, at least 13 vultures also succumbed as they consumed the tainted lion flesh—tragic victims of an ongoing conflict that pits human interests against wildlife in Kajiado County.
Conservation officials express concern that the actual number of vulture fatalities could exceed initial estimates, as scavengers often traverse great distances before succumbing to the effects of poisoned carcasses.
Joel ole Nyika, chief park warden of the Amboseli Conservation Area, confirmed that investigators are diligently working to determine the timeline of the poisoning incident.
“We lack an exact date for when the poisoning took place, but the carcasses appear to be from approximately two or three days ago,” Nyika informed the Star on Thursday.
The unlawful killing of vultures and other protected species, such as elephants, constitutes a serious crime, carrying potential fines of up to Sh20 million or lengthy prison sentences, including life imprisonment.
Lions are categorized as an endangered and nationally valued species. The act of poisoning lions, even in acts of retribution, is a grave offense under Kenya’s Wildlife Conservation and Management Act of 2013, incurring severe penalties.
Preliminary investigations indicate that the lions were poisoned following an attack on livestock, reflecting a recurring pattern where frustrated herders resort to lacing animal carcasses with toxic substances to eliminate predators in retaliation.
Kenya houses an estimated 2,512 lions, according to the 2025 national wildlife census. However, these majestic creatures face increasing threats from habitat reduction, illegal killings, and escalating human-wildlife conflicts.
The poison intended for lions rarely spares other species. Vultures, attracted by the prospect of an easy meal, descend upon contaminated carcasses, leading to significant mortality rates.
Kenya is home to eight of Africa’s 11 vulture species, including white-backed, white-headed, hooded, Rüppell’s, Egyptian, lappet-faced, bearded, and palm-nut vultures. Four of these species are classified as critically endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List.
Over the past thirty years, vulture populations in Kenya and across Africa have dramatically declined due to poisoning—both intentional and accidental—habitat loss, collisions, electrocution from power lines, cultural practices, illegal trade, and insufficient enforcement of wildlife laws.
However, vultures play an essential, often overlooked role in the ecosystem. By swiftly consuming carcasses, they maintain clean landscapes and help mitigate the spread of deadly diseases such as anthrax, rabies, and tuberculosis among wildlife, livestock, and humans.
The poisoning incident in Kitenden occurred just days after another tragic event highlighting the human cost of wildlife conflict.
On the evening of December 18, 2025, 35-year-old Early Childhood Development teacher Eunice Maora tragically lost her life due to an attack by an elephant near her home in Lairupa village, Elangata Wuas location, Kajiado West.
Officers from the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), in collaboration with the National Police Service and local administrators, confirmed the cause of death and transported her body to the Kajiado County Referral Hospital mortuary.
In the following days, KWS undertook extensive aerial and ground operations to locate the elephant responsible for the incident. The animal, found to be injured and posing an immediate threat, was legally euthanized in accordance with the Wildlife Conservation and Management Act of 2013.
KWS expressed its condolences to Maora’s family, colleagues, students, and the broader Lodokilani community, while also engaging local leaders, including area MP George Sunkuya, to inform the family about the compensation process.
“We remain profoundly concerned about this tragedy and reaffirm our commitment to enhancing human-wildlife conflict mitigation while safeguarding lives and fostering peaceful coexistence,” the agency stated.
Despite these interventions, tensions continue to escalate. Reports indicate that two more elephants have been killed since the incident, signaling a deterioration in relations between local communities and wildlife authorities.
Data spanning from 2009 to 2024 reveals a concerning trend of increasing national crises. Over this 15-year period, Kenya documented 57,006 incidents of human-wildlife conflict.
Crop destruction represents the largest share, accounting for 32,480 cases, followed by livestock predation with 15,940 incidents. These numbers have surged sharply in recent years, peaking at 8,272 incidents in 2023 before slightly declining to 7,883 in 2024.
Conservationists caution that the situation in Amboseli worsened months after the park’s management transitioned to county control, disrupting established conservation partnerships and investments in the ecosystem.
For communities living adjacent to protected areas, the conflict is intensely personal and painful. For conservationists, the deaths of lions and vultures signify a deeper ecological crisis—one that unfolds with each poisoned carcass.
