Two people in Chonyi Sub County are nursing injuries after they were mauled by a lion.
The two; Jaribu Chiro and Tuva Kadhengi were among locals who responded to a distress call by young boys who were herding their animals.
Sub County Police Commander Musa Mbwengo said the boys saw a lion approaching before raising an alarm.
“People responded by trying to chase the lion. Unfortunately the two were attacked. One was mauled on the buttocks while the other was injured on the thigh,” Munga said.
Mwakambi assistant chief Simon Munga said one was treated at the Chasimba Health Centre while the other was rushed to Kilifi county hospital.
The administrator said officers from the Kenya Wildlife Service responded quickly but could not hunt down the lion.
“They laid a trap but they did not catch the lion. The lion has now moved from M’bomboni to Mwakambi. We are still waiting for the KWS officers,” he added.
A resident Simon Kazungu said they have been forced to escort their children to school for fear of being attacked by the animal.
Kazungu said there is fear that more people could be attacked as they surround the bush where the lion is.
“The lion is currently at Lubondo forest which is near Lubondo Primary. People have surrounded the area with weapons just in case it comes out. The KWS officers arrived yesterday and placed a goat inside a trap but the lion did not come out. We are very much worried,” Kazungu said.
It is not clear where the Lion could have come from as there is no forest in Kilifi county where lions live.
The nearest place where lions live is Tsavo East national Park or Tsavo West National park.
It is however still a mystery how a lion can walk from the two national parks to the area without being noticed as the area is highly populated.
Two months ago, a girl was killed by a stray Jumbo in the neigbouring Kaloleni sub county.
Officers from the KWS had warned that huma-wildlife conflict would rise due to the ravaging drought.
