Kenya is facing a severe wildlife crisis as hyenas, described as "killer hyenas," have been responsible for the deaths of 22 people in recent weeks.
A Grave Threat to the Community
The situation has prompted a dramatic response from both local residents and officials.
The attacks have predominantly occurred in Kiambu County, where these nocturnal predators have become a grave threat to the community.
The most recent attack took place on September 4 in Juja, where a five-year-old boy was killed by the hyenas. This incident has heightened fear and urgency among the local population.
Governor Kimani Wamatangi has called on the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) to address the crisis urgently. Wamatangi warned that if the situation is not managed promptly, residents may take matters into their own hands.
May Be Rabid
The community's frustration is evident, with reports indicating that local businesses and politicians have offered a reward of 20,000 Kenyan Shillings (150 US dollars) for each hyena killed.
The Kenya Wildlife Service is attempting to mitigate the crisis by deploying personnel to the affected areas.
They suspect that the hyenas may be rabid, which could explain their aggressive behavior. The plan is to capture and relocate the hyenas to remote areas far from human settlements. However, the effectiveness of these measures remains uncertain, and the fear among residents continues to grow.
Authorities have advised the public to stay indoors at night, manage waste properly, and avoid tampering with hyena traps. Despite these precautions, the violence of these attacks underscores the dire need for a more effective solution to this escalating crisis.
