Kenya conducts aerial surveillance for stray wild animals

Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) said Friday its helicopter conducted aerial surveillance to determine the presence of lions and other wild animals in Nairobi and its environs.

The move came after the wildlife agency received reports that a lone lion had been spotted outside the Nairobi National Park's eastern side near Nairobi-Mombasa highway in the capital.

"The park's management immediately dispatched three specialised teams to trace and drive the lion back to the park. The teams acted fast and managed to drive the stray lion back," KWS said in a statement issued in Nairobi.

"Unfortunately, before this was done the lion attacked a 63-year-old man, inflicting him with injuries. This happened along the flight path to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) where the animal felt threatened by motorists hooting, shouting and others taking videos," the statement said.

KWS said its team rushed to his assistance, and took him to a JKIA medical facility where he received first aid treatment before being transferred to a city hospital.

According to the wildlife agency, the team was still on the ground where the lion was sighted and was following its foot prints to establish whether there could be other lions that may have strayed together with it.

"The teams are also trying to establish the possible stray routes. KWS is advising the public to remain calm whenever they encounter wild animals to avoid unnecessarily provoking them," it said.

KWS had also urged the public to remain vigilant and avoid provoking the wild animals in case they come into contact with them.

The latest incident came after four lionesses are reported to have strayed from the park last month but one later returned unharmed. Enditem