According to international media reports, They killed Loonkito, the oldest free-ranging lion in Africa. Yes, this huge 19-year-old cat was speared to death on the outskirts of Amboseli National Park.
They killed Loonkito, the oldest lion in Africa
According to information from France 24they killed Loonkito, the oldest lion in the wild in Africa, as a community of people known as Maasai morans he was attacked with spears after he entered a cattle pen outside Amboseli National Park.
In this regard, the spokesman for the Kenya Wildlife Service, Paul Jinaro, reported that it was an old lion who already had some health problemsso it was difficult for him to hunt by himself and it was easier for him with domestic cattle.
“A normal lion would search for wildlife within the park”the spokesman commented.
It should be noted that, according to the conservation group Cats for Africa, African lions typically have a lifespan of up to 18 years in the wildso this specimen was very special for having passed that age.
What else is known about Loonkito?
In 2021, the Kenya Wildlife Service described Loonkito as a “legendary big cat warrior”since it had defended its territory for more than ten years.
While the conservation group Lion Guardians indicated that this ancient African lion was “a symbol of resilience and coexistence”.
In fact, through its official Facebook page, this non-profit organization mourned the death of the huge cat: “It is with a heavy heart that we share the news of the passing of Loonkito (2004 – 2023), the oldest male lion in our ecosystem and possibly in Africa”.
See you later, Loonkito!
