Farmer losses two goats to wild animal

A livestock farmer in Laikipia is counting losses after an unknown wild animal attacked and killed two of her goat Sunday night.
Lydia Nkatha lost two mature goats to the carnivore thought to be a leopard after it struck at her home in Nturukuma village on the outskirts of Nanyuki town.
The incident has left many residents in fear as the animal is said to be roaming the area at night in search of livestock to feed on.
“I heard commotion last night in my compound and my dogs were barking furiously and when I peeped through the window I saw the animal mauling one of my goats. I watched helplessly since I couldn’t dare go out.” Nkatha narrated as she held onto the carcass of one of her animals.
She further said that the carnivore had spots on its body but she couldn’t know if it was a cheetah or leopard.
“I intended to sell the two goats so that I could clear school fees for my son. Now I don’t know where I will get money from”, a tearful Nkatha said.
Her neighbor Bilha Wambui said that they lived in fear of attack from the animal and called on Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) personnel to come to their rescue and trap it.
“We fear taking our children to school in the morning because you never know if you might bump into the animal. We are living in fear”, Wambui said.
Efforts by KNA to get a comment from KWS were futile as none could be reached on phone. Cases of human wildlife conflicts are a regular occurrence in the county.
By Martin Munyi