Lion alert issued for Nairobi residents

Nairobi’s residents are on alert not for an impending militant attack but for two lionesses that have gone missing from a national park on the outskirts of the Kenyan capital.

A huge operation is currently underway to find the animals which went missing Thursday night. They were last seen in the densely populated neighborhood of Langata.

A toll free telephone number has been made available for the public to contact authorities with information about the animals.

“The lions are dangerous wild animals. Do not confront them when you encounter them,” warned the spokesman for the Kenyan Wildlife Service (KWS), Paul Udoto.

“Our teams that includes veterinarians are at work in Langata looking for the animals,” he added.

The 117 km squared national park is located just 7km from the center of the Kenyan capital. It’s proximity to the city centre has prompted questions about security for city dwellers.

Several news sites reported that local residents are angry the KWS has still not managed to recapture the animals.

Meanwhile one lioness and her two cubs have been recaptured, and two other animals are believed to have gone back into the Nairobi National Park on their own accord.