[Odhiambo Joseph BBC Africa] Nairobi – A lion is on the loose in Kenya’s capital, Nairobi, after escaping from a nearby national park.
It is roaming through the upmarket suburb of Karen.
The Kenya Wildlife Service is trying to lure the cat back towards the Nairobi National Park.
The park is separated by a main road from suburbs in the south of the city.
This is the third incident this year of a lion escaping the park.
How to catch a lion?
n less built-up areas bordering the park:
- Manually comb through areas of thick scrub, where lions tend to hide • Use helicopters to spot the animals and then fly low to steer them in a direction away from inhabited areas.
In densely populated areas:
- Alert the public to report sightings and stay clear of big cats
- Once located, lure the lion out into an open space with goat meat
- Once easily visible, a vet should fire a dart with tranquilisers to sedate the cat
- Never approach or irritate the animals – lionesses with cubs are most dangerous as they will attack if provoked even when not hungry.
Source: KWS senior warden Nelly Palmeris
