According to local wildlife officials, a Kenyan lion named Loonkito, considered to be the world’s oldest, died after being viciously impaled by Maasai morans (warriors) on Wednesday (May 10) night.
Loonkito was 19 years old when he perished while preying on livestock in the Olkelunyiet community in southern Kenya, near Amboseli National Park. The area is well-known for being the ideal site in Africa for travelers to get up close and personal with free-roaming wild elephants and other animal species.
Lion Guardians, a Maasai-run conservation organization, announced Loonkito’s death on Instagram, calling him the “oldest male lion in their ecosystem and possibly in Africa.”
“It is with heavy hearts that we share the news of the passing of Loonkiito (2004 – 2023), the oldest male lion in our ecosystem and possibly in Africa. He died yesterday, on the 10th of May 2023 at 19 years old,” read the caption.
“He was a symbol of resilience and coexistence. We at Lion Guardians feel privileged to have borne witness to his life and his legacy. In the following weeks and months, we hope to share the extraordinary story of Loonkiito’s life with the world.”
The bush king was assassinated because he came too close to human habitation. A combination of conditions, most notably a scarcity of food in the forest, drove the lion to pursue livestock as a last choice.
“In desperation, lions often turn to take livestock,” the group added.
Loonkito was an outlier
According to scientists, most lions do not live past the age of 13 in the wild, making Loonkito an outlier. Though the Kenyan authorities have not confirmed whether he was the continent’s oldest lion, his death has had an impact and demonstrates the growing conflict between man and wildlife.
Wildlife conservationist and WildlifeDirect CEO Paula Kahumbu expressed sadness over Loonkito’s death to the BBC.
“This is the breaking point for human-wildlife conflict and we need to do more as a country to preserve lions, which are facing extinction,” said Kahumbu.
Aside from Africa, the magnificent big cats can only be found in India’s Gir National Park in the western state of Gujarat.