A teenage girl has been mauled to death by a lion after she was snatched from a ranch next to a park.
The 14-year-old’s remains were discovered by rangers after they followed the animal’s bloodied tracks to a nearby river in Nairobi, Kenya.
The attack came just a day after an elephant brutally killed a man in a forest.
The lion jumped over a makeshift fence and took the girl from a compound south of a national park on the outskirts of the Kenyan capital Nairobi, the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) said.
The wild cat had entered the compound and attacked the girl, who was with another teenager at the time.
The teenager immediately called for help KWS rangers rushed to find the girl.
They traced bloodstains all the way to the Mbagathi River, where the 14-year-old’s body was recovered with injuries on her lower back.
The lion remains on the loose, with rangers setting traps to try catch it again.
Further security measures, including electric fencing and AI-powered early warning systems are also being implemented to protect local communities.
Nairobi National Park is home to lions, buffalos, giraffes, leopards and cheetahs – and is just six miles from the city centre.
While it is fenced on three sides, the park is open to the south to facilitate animal migration.
The lion attack came just a day after another fatal animal encounter in the country.
An elephant fatally injured a 54-year-old man in a forest in Kenya’s Nyeri County, 80 miles north of Nairobi.
He died from severe chest injuries, fractured ribs and internal trauma sustained during the attack, KWS said.
Senior Corporate Communications Manager Paul Udoto told CNN that both attacks could be traced to ‘broader ecological pressures and human encroachment on wildlife habitats’.
‘KWS conveys its heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and continues to work closely with local law enforcement and communities to enhance the safety of people living near protected wildlife areas,’ the agency added.
Lion attacks are rare but have occurred in the country before.
In 2019, one big cat killed a man after escaping from Nairobi National Park.
The victim, Rono Kipkirui Simion, was mauled as he was heading home from work.
However, hippos are considered one of the most deadly animals on the continent, including in Kenya.
Despite their docile appearance, hippos can aggressively protect their territory and offspring.
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