Six lions from the same pride at the Oleisukut Conservancy in the Maasai Mara are on the road to recovery after being treated for suspected poisoning, the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) has confirmed.
The big cats were spotted over the weekend looking weak and disoriented, prompting fears of poisoning. A veterinary team was immediately dispatched, administering emergency care and later relocating the pride for safety.
“Six lions in Oleisukut Conservancy – Maasai Mara, were reported showing signs of poisoning. Our veterinary team responded swiftly, administering emergency treatment, stabilising the pride, and relocating them to safety,” KWS said in a Monday statement.
According to the agency, all six lions survived the ordeal. Four have since recovered fully, while two remain under close medical watch. Investigations are underway to establish the source of the poisoning.
KWS reiterated its pledge to protect Kenya’s iconic wildlife, saying, “We reaffirm our commitment to safeguarding our wildlife heritage for current and future generations.”
The incident unfolded just days after the country marked World Tourism Day on September 27, when KWS granted Kenyans free entry into national parks to encourage domestic tourism.
It also comes barely a month after controversy rocked the wildebeest migration in the Mara, where unruly tourists were caught on camera abandoning their safari vans and blocking the animals’ path across the Mara River. The chaotic scene forced some of the wildebeest back into crocodile-infested waters, drawing sharp criticism from conservationists.
