‘Legendary Big Cat Warrior’: One of world’s oldest lions speared to death in Kenya

Loonkiito, the wild lion from Kenya, who believed to be one of the world’s oldest lion died after being speared by herders, said wildlife officials on May 13.

According to Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) spokesman Paul Jinaro, the legendary big cat was 19-year-old and was speared to death by Maasai morans (warriors) when it strayed into a livestock pen on the outskirts of Amboseli National Park, reported by AFP.

As per BBC, the village, where Loonkiito was speared to death, borders Amboseli National Park - in southern Kenya.

"It was an old lion that had issues... getting prey on its own and livestock is easy prey.  A normal lion would go for wildlife inside the park,” AFP quoted Jinaro as saying.

In 2021, the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) described Loonkito as a ‘legendary big cat warrior’ who defended its territory by defeating other lions for more than 10 years.

According to conservation group Lion Guardians praised the big cat as ‘a symbol of resilience and coexistence.’

"It is with heavy hearts that we share the news of the passing of Loonkito (2004 - 2023), the oldest male lion. in our ecosystem and possibly in Africa," the non-profit said on Facebook.

Notably, the African lions on an average have a lifespan of up to 18 years in the wild but Loonkito surpassed it and was 19-year-old.

In recent years, wildlife straying into human habitats has increased as animals face growing pressure from cities expanding into ancient migration and hunting grounds. "People need to be sensitized on looking for a way to alert us, and then we can take the animals back to the parks," stated KWS official Jinaro.

Notably, the park is only seven kilometers away from Kenya's capital, Nairobi, and wild animals straying into the chaotic metropolis is not a new occurrence. In 2019, a wild lion mauled a man to death outside the park, and in 2016, a big cat was shot dead after attacking and injuring a nearby resident.

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