Two lions poisoned
Apr 17, 2005
TWO lions have been poisoned to death in Queen Elizabeth National Park, after they mauled livestock that strayed into the park.
By Gerald Tenywa
TWO lions have been poisoned to death in Queen Elizabeth National Park, after they mauled livestock that strayed into the park.
According to the red data list of the World Conservation Union, the lions are an endangered species.
The park’s chief warden, Obong Okello, said last week the carcasses of the lions were found at Hamukungu fishing village, Katwe sub-county in Kasese district.
Okello also said 42 dead vultures were lying in the vicinity, suggesting that the large cats had been poisoned. He said a postmortem confirmed that the animals were poisoned, but could not establish the kind of poison used.
“Once this kind of thing starts, it is hard to stop it,’’ Okello said, adding that the communities at Hamukungu had become hostile to the lions.
However, the LCI chairperson at Hamukungu fishing village, Patrick Bayunga, denied that the animals were poisoned, saying they were found dead outside the village.
Bayunga, accompanied by Yowasi Mugenyi, the chairperson of the grassroot committee that addresses development and conservation issues, complained of harassment by Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) officials.
Other sources within the village said the lions had invaded a kraal within the village, killing the livestock.
But UWA’s investigations that culminated into the arrest of one herdsman revealed that the lions had killed cattle that were grazing in the park.
They resolved not to inform the wildlife authorities and later mooted a plan of poisoning the lions so that the cattle can graze freely in part of the park, according to Okello.
Okello said they would step up conservation activities within the fishing village to improve harmonious relations with the residents because they play a role in the survival of the beasts.
The population of the lions in the park is estimated at 200 and the total population of the lions in all the protected areas is 450, according to UWA.
The Uganda Wildlife Society, an advocacy body, warned that without resolving the conflict with communities the lions would become extinct.
TWO lions have been poisoned to death in Queen Elizabeth National Park, after they mauled livestock that strayed into the park.
According to the red data list of the World Conservation Union, the lions are an endangered species.
The park’s chief warden, Obong Okello, said last week the carcasses of the lions were found at Hamukungu fishing village, Katwe sub-county in Kasese district.
Okello also said 42 dead vultures were lying in the vicinity, suggesting that the large cats had been poisoned. He said a postmortem confirmed that the animals were poisoned, but could not establish the kind of poison used.
“Once this kind of thing starts, it is hard to stop it,’’ Okello said, adding that the communities at Hamukungu had become hostile to the lions.
However, the LCI chairperson at Hamukungu fishing village, Patrick Bayunga, denied that the animals were poisoned, saying they were found dead outside the village.
Bayunga, accompanied by Yowasi Mugenyi, the chairperson of the grassroot committee that addresses development and conservation issues, complained of harassment by Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) officials.
Other sources within the village said the lions had invaded a kraal within the village, killing the livestock.
But UWA’s investigations that culminated into the arrest of one herdsman revealed that the lions had killed cattle that were grazing in the park.
They resolved not to inform the wildlife authorities and later mooted a plan of poisoning the lions so that the cattle can graze freely in part of the park, according to Okello.
Okello said they would step up conservation activities within the fishing village to improve harmonious relations with the residents because they play a role in the survival of the beasts.
The population of the lions in the park is estimated at 200 and the total population of the lions in all the protected areas is 450, according to UWA.
The Uganda Wildlife Society, an advocacy body, warned that without resolving the conflict with communities the lions would become extinct.