Liebe Foris
Während ich diese Nachricht schreibe, habe ich Tränen in den Augen.
In der Nacht vom 5. Auf den 6.12. haben Mitglieder des Marsh Pride in den Musiara Swamps 2 oder 3 Kühe von illegal dort grasenden Maasai gerissen. Diese holten Furadan von woher auch immer und streuten es über einen Kadaver. Furadan ist leider nur theoretisch verboten, doch ist es nach wie vor erhältlich.
Kenya Wildlife Ranger und Tierärzte vom Daphid Sheldrick Wildlife Foundation wurden gerufen und versuchten mit Gegengift die vergifteten Löwen zu retten. 2 davon starben ziemlich rasch. Eine davon ist Bibi, mit 18 Jahren die älteste Löwin in der Masai Mara. Sie wurde durch BBC Big Cat Diary von Jonathan und Angela Scott berühmt. Furadan ist ein Pestizid und wirkt bei Säugetieren als Nervengift.
7.12. Yesterday morning The David Sheldrick wildlife trust mobile clinic arrived at 10.30 am to check on sub male Alan and other members of the Marsh pride. Alan is Siena's sub adult cub and was the lion they treated the day before. He is looking much better and stronger on his feet. A post mortem was also carried out on Bibi.
Governors guides spent the day looking for the members of the Marsh Pride and all members of the marsh pride were located by lunchtime apart from Siena who remains unnaccounted for.
We found Red (4 year old marsh male who is the son of Sienna) along with four daughters of the marsh pride. Tatu (Charms son) and Alan was seen near Rhino Ridge and with him was marsh Lioness Charm. Kabibi and her cubs were located as was Yaya and her cubs.
Our guides continue to monitor all lions which are under 24 hour suveillance.
7.12. On Sunday morning at 8.00am Patrick Reynolds of Governors Camp in the Masai Mara received a call that some of the lions from the famous Marsh Pride were acting strangely collapsing and suffering from spasms. Patrick immediately called the DSWT funded Mara Mobile Veterinary Unit headed by KWS Veterinary officer Dr. Limo who were on the scene by 11.30am.
Dr. Limo, confirmed that up to five lions had suffered from ingesting a poison of some description including a 2 year old sub adult male whose mother is Sienna, the lioness we have successfully treated for severe injuries on a number of occasions. Sienna remains unaccounted for, while the 2 year old son has responded well to treatment and is looking brighter today, having been guarded all night to keep him safe from Hyenas as he recuperated.
Dr. Limo began treating the lions yesterday and today the DSWT is flying in emergency supplies of Atropine Sulphate, an additional helpful antidote for poisoning. Tragically one older lioness from the Marsh Pride has died as a result of this poisoning incident and the Mara Veterinary Team is back on site today treating some more lions from the pride.
KWS report that three people have been arrested in connection with the poisoning of the lions. Being an endangered species, if found guilty, the three could face fines of $200,000 or life imprisonment.
(Images courtesy of Patrick Reynolds)


Credit Simon Thomsett
8.12. Attached is picture of a seven month male lion poisoned on 6 th Dec. Yesterday it was incapable of defending itself and separated from its pride. The pride is called the Marsh Pride...not an other. This is the most famous pride of lions in the world.
KWS did dart him with atropine on the 6 and he improved. But later relapsed. He was monitored night and day. But last night he was lost.
Buffalo came and flattened him. In the photo you can seen an area in which they pounded him. He had six hyena when found at 0645. I noted no broken bones. Skin tone on fore and hind limb. No muscle removed no tendons cut no profuse bleeding. Chest wound not punctured lung. High wound on belly over liver not deep. No blood in nostril and breathing regular. No obvious heamotoma
Stretches and tries to get a better position. A hyena came to kill him but he reacted. He got up and walked under our car. KWS phoned offering plane to pick it up at 845.meanwhile got Mark Goss to pick up Dr Limu and Dr Felix Micheni from Talek...because the river is too high too cross. Brian heath coming o er too. Alan died this morning as a result of injuries he sustained from the buffalo last night. RIP ALAN 7 months old. KWS tried to save him but could not.
What is amazing is that everyone from county, to KWS as well as governers camp BBC and nat geo magazine are all cooperating to make sure this lion survives.
Simon Thomsett
Nun heute (10.12.) kam die traurige Nachricht durch, dass auch Siena wie befürchtet, unter den verstorbenen Löwen ist. Es ist ein riesiger Schlag für das Marsh Rudel, das in letzter Zeit schon etwas unruhig war, weil neue Männchen ins Gebiet zogen.
Auch wurden bereits tote Geier, Hyänen und Schakale gefunden, die von den vergifteten Kühen oder Löwen frassen. Ein grosser Eingriff in die Nahrungskette.
Governor’s Camp und deren Guides tun sehr viel, um diese Löwenrudel zu schützen. Doch ohne Hilfe von den Behörden haben sie keine Macht, die Kühe rauzuwerfen. Auf der Triangle Seite kommen keine Kühe rein, dort ist ein Management von den Maasai eingesetzt, das zum Rechten schaut.
Ich verfolge, was nun mit den Tätern passieren wird - ob das Gesetz auch zuschlagen wird oder ob es wieder nur leere Worte sind. Es ist leider nicht einfach, die Maasai festzunageln, da sie sehr schnell drohen, dass wenn einer von ihnen ins Gefängnis muss, sie weitere Wildtiere umbringen werden. Zwiespalt....
Traurige Grüsse
Elvira