- A lioness was captured on CCTV on Pasha Drive, Rongai, at night.
- The video shows the lioness scaling a wall and jumping into a home in Rongai.
- The lioness later emerges from the darkness, grasping a black dog by the neck as it retreats to the street.
A video surfaced on Wednesday, May 22, showing a lioness wandering in a residential estate at night. The footage, seen by The Nairobi Tribune, was captured on CCTV on Pasha Drive, Ongata Rongai.
The trending 1.15-minute video, dated May 21, 2024, shows a lioness seamlessly scaling a wall, briefly stopping on the perimeter to survey the home for potential prey. The lioness then jumps into the home and disappears into the darkness.
A few moments later, the lioness emerges from the darkness with a black dog tightly grasped by the neck. It attempts to find a spot to devour the catch before disappearing into the night.
Reports of Missing Dogs
The CCTV footage appeared amid increased reports of missing dogs in the neighborhood. Residents were unsure where their guard dogs had disappeared to. It has now been established that the dogs became the unlucky prey of marauding lions staging surprise ambushes in the middle of the night.
Responding to the CCTV video, one Ongata Rongai resident reacted, “It is painful to lose a dog who always welcomes me at the gate whenever I come back home!”
KWS Cautions Residents
A week before the video emerged, the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) had cautioned residents to be wary of stray lions sighted in the estate. Earlier reports indicated that three lions had been spotted near Lang’ata Women’s Prison in Nairobi. KWS mobilized its wardens to search the area for the lions, but they were not found.
“KWS continues to monitor the reports and remains on high alert. Please exercise caution and report any incidents involving these animals,”
KWS Statement
“KWS cautions the public to avoid outdoor activities in those areas, especially after dusk. The safety of people and promoting wildlife coexistence is our priority,” KWS added.
KWS revealed that the displacement of wildlife is largely due to the ongoing heavy rains being experienced across the country, which is anticipated to cause increased human-wildlife conflict.