Four Maasai warriors were injured in the incident
Killings were retaliation for big cats' attack on donkeys in a stable
Government 'saddened to learn' of deaths of the endangered species
Lions likely came from a national park about 100 kilometres away
Six lions have been killed and four Maasai herders injured in the latest clash between man and beast in Tanzania.
The government said it was 'saddened to learn' that six of the endangered species were killed overnight on January 1 in the northern Babati District.
It said it would attempt to identify and prosecute those responsible.
Revenge: The lions were killed by the Maasai warriors after they attacked donkeys in a stable (file picture)
Injured: Four Maasai warriors were hurt during the killings of the six endangered lions (file picture)
Authorities said the big cats, which attacked donkeys in a stable, likely came from Tarangire National Park, about 100 kilometres away.
After learning of the attack, the Maasai, who were armed with bows and arrows and at least one gun, took revenge on the lions.
Big cats: Authorities believe the lions came from Tarangire National Park, about 100 kilometres away (file picture)
WHO ARE THE MAASAI?
The Maasai are a semi-nomadic tribe inhabiting southern Kenya and northern Tanzania.
They occupy a total land area of 160,000 square kilometers.
Their lives centre around their cattle, which are their primary source of food and an important measure of wealth and success.
The tribesmen are renowned for their height and fierce hunting culture.
Lion attacks on livestock have become more frequent in Tanzania and neighbouring Kenya, where people and wildlife are increasingly living side by side.
Residents have responded by launching vigilante operations against the cats.
In 2012, people living near the Kenyan capital Nairobi used spears to kill six lions and a cub that attacked goats in a nearby village after wandering out of a national park.
Lions are part of a rich wildlife that draws hundreds of thousands of tourists every year and is essential to the local economy.
1 comment:
mimi ndo maana nataka kuolewa na mmasai,kwa sababu wao ni vidume vyakukata na shoka,anakuja kukuowa unajua una kidume hasa ndani ya nyumba kitakacho weza kuku protect kisawa sawa nakushughulikia.
Post a Comment