A 14-year-old girl tragically lost her life after being attacked by a lioness near Nairobi National Park in Kenya on Saturday, April 19, 2025. The incident occurred when the lioness entered a residential compound on a ranch adjacent to the park, reportedly by jumping over a makeshift fence. The teenager was at home with another youth at the time. The other individual alerted emergency responders, who later found the girl’s body near the Mbagathi River, noting injuries on her lower back. The lioness remains at large. People.com
According to the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), such deadly lion attacks are rare, accounting for less than 2% of human-wildlife incidents. However, the proximity of human settlements to wildlife habitats, especially in areas where park boundaries are unfenced, increases the risk of such encounters. The southern boundary of Nairobi National Park is open, allowing wildlife to roam into nearby human habitats. People.com
Conservationists emphasize the need for enhanced security measures in areas adjacent to wildlife reserves. Paula Kahumbu, head of the WildlifeDirect conservation group, called for increased risk assessments and the implementation of anti-predator deterrents, particularly in high-risk zones like Savannah Ranch. People.com
The KWS has extended its condolences to the victim’s family and is collaborating with local communities to improve safety practices. Efforts are underway to locate the lioness involved in the attack. People.com+1UNILAD+1
This tragic event underscores the challenges of human-wildlife coexistence in regions where natural habitats intersect with human development.
