“World’s Oldest Wild Lion Killed: Tragic Loss in Kenya”

2023.05.14 Sun posted at 17:30 JST

（ＣＮＮ） A 19-year-old Loonkit, thought to be one of the world’s oldest wild lions, was killed by a livestock trader in Kenya, east Africa, according to the Lion Guardians.

The charity said the animals had climbed into livestock pens at night when they were starving and looking for food.

Loonkit was thought to be the oldest male lion in Africa.

“Ten years ago, no lion lived past the age of 10,” the group said. The longevity of lions was attributed to efforts by local communities to share land with big cats.

The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) reported on its official website that residents and lions have been competing to secure land and resources in response to the surge in demand for energy sources over the past 50 years.

He explained that as the number of animals to feed on lions decreases, the lions’ range will expand and they will sometimes appear outside the reserve, which will end up targeting livestock and threatening residential areas. Farmers and others often take steps to kill lions to prevent retaliation and conflict, he said.

Kenya has faced its worst drought in 40 years, according to the Lion Guardians. For the lions, it means hunting for food in the wild has become more difficult, and the end of the drought is marked by more conflicts with residents, he said.