STOP THE SERENGETI HIGHWAY
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A lioness was on Sunday night killed by a speeding vehicle on the busy Nairobi-Mombasa highway [in Kenya]. Witnesses said the lioness, which died on the spot, had her teeth, eyeballs, claws and tail were taken away by unknown people.
Parts of her skin were also removed. Several wild animals have been run-over on the highway by wreckless driviers, especially on the stretch between the Mtito Andei – Bachuma Gate, which goes through the Tsavo National Park.
Two days ago, a buffalo was killed in the same area. These incidents have prompted wildlife coservationists to ask that speed bumps be laid down in key spots on the highway.
“We have put up notices on the highway warning drivers of the presence of wildlife but many of them do not obey the road signs.Many people have died in the area after hitting big wild animals like the elephants,” said Wilson Korir, the KWS assistant director in charge of the Tsavo conservation area.
Korir said elephants, buffaloes, hyenas and zebras are the most killed by speeding vehicles in the highway. “We suspect the lioness was killed by a bus. Its very rare to find lions being hit by vehicles in the area,” he said. The assistant director warned those who made away with parts of the lioness that they will be arrested and punished.
“Its illegal for one to possess game trophies. Anyone found with the stolen parts will face the law,” Korir said. The carcass was taken to Tsavo East by KWS rangers. It was recently reported that poachers had began harvesting wildlife body parts for witchcraft.
Story above from the THE STAR December 18, 2012
http://the-star.co.ke/news/article-99883/bus-runs-over-tsavo-lioness
