The world's longest-lived lion was stabbed to death by a herdsman with a spear
A Kenyan lion, believed to be the world's longest-lived, died after being stabbed with a spear by a group of Maasai warriors.
Loonkito, 19, was killed by herders Wednesday night in the village of Olkelunyitet while he was hunting livestock.
On Wednesday, it was said to have moved too close to the fence in Amboseli National Park, forcing herders to act.
The group used spears to drive the old predator away from their herd, but eventually the lion died from a stab in the head.
Ronchito was killed very close to the corral
The "legendary big cat warrior" has been defending his territory for more than a decade
For years, Longkito was admired by wildlife experts for its unusual age and longevity, and conservationists also mourned his death.
The giant carnivore has been dubbed the "legendary Big Cat Warrior" by the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) for defending his territory for more than a decade.
KWS spokesman Paul Genaro said: "This is a problematic old lion, it preys on its own and livestock are easily preyed upon. ”
"An ordinary lion would chase wild animals in the park."
According to African wild cat conservation groups, African lions typically live up to 18 years in the wild.
Lion Guardians, a conservation group, praised Luenkitto as "a symbol of resilience and coexistence."
"It is with a heavy heart that we share with you the death of Loonkito (2004-2023), the longest-lived male lion in our ecosystem and possibly the longest-lived male lion in Africa," the nonprofit said on Facebook.
Animal protection organizations and animal lovers around the world mourned his death
According to Impact Africa, the number of lions in the wild has declined by 90% over the past decade, and only 23,000 remain.
According to the World Wildlife Federation, almost all lions live in Africa, with a small number in India.
Longgito cannot be officially recognized as the oldest lion in the world, but he is very old and exceeds the average age to live.
In recent years, there have been increasing reports of wild animals intruding into human habitats in Kenya, as animals come under increasing pressure as cities expand into ancient migration and hunting grounds.
People need to be sensitive to finding a way to remind us that "then we can bring the animals back to the park," said KWS official Jinaro.
Just 7 kilometers (4 miles) from Kenya's capital city centre, it's not unheard of for animals to escape the meadows and wander into the chaotic metropolis of more than 4 million people.
In December 2019, a lion bit a man dead outside the park, while in March 2016, another feline was shot dead after attacking and injuring nearby residents.
As recently as February 2016, two lions roamed the densely populated urban slum of Kibera for a day before returning to the park, where more lions were spotted in town a few days later.
According to the country's first national wildlife census conducted in 2021, Kenya has an estimated 2,500 lions.