ONE OF THE OLDEST WILD LIONS SLAINT IN KENYA

“This is the tipping point for conflict between people and wildlife.”

Authorities in Kenya have reported that a wild male lion thought to be among the oldest in the world passed away after being speared by herders.

Loonkiito, a 19-year-old Kenyan who preyed on cattle, passed away on Wednesday night in Olkelunyiet village, close to Amboseli National Park.

He was referred to as “the oldest male lion in our ecosystem and possibly in Africa” by the conservation organization Lion Guardians.

Lions typically reach the age of 13 in the wild.

The group praised Loonkiito as “a symbol of resilience and coexistence” and claimed that his death was “a difficult situation for both sides, the people and the lion.”

To learn why there has been an uptick in local human-lion conflict, click the link in our bio.