Trans Nzoia Farmers Counting Loses as Mysterious Animal Kills 30 Goats, Eats Brains and Intestines
- Farmers in Trans Nzoia expressed their fear following night attacks on their livestock by an unknown wild animal
- The farmers told TUKO.co.ke that for the last three days, the animal had killed at least 30 goats and sheep in four villages within Cherang’any sub-county
- According to the farmers, the mysterious animal only drains the blood and eats the intestines of the killed livestock
- Officers from the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) have already visited the affected villages and set up traps they hope will capture the animals
Trans Nzoia: Several livestock farmers in Uwanja Ndege, Riwo, Kaptaragon and Benon villages in Cherang'any constituency are counting huge losses after an unknown wild animal devoured their 30 goats and sheep in the last three days.
Source: UGC
Surprisingly, the wild animal is only interested in the goat and sheep’s blood, brains and intestines, leaving behind the rest of the meat.
How much have Trans Nzoia farmers lost?
Charles Komen, a farmer who lost 13 sheep worth KSh 136,000, lamented that the wild animal had devastated his livelihood.
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He called on relevant authorities to intervene to avert further loss of sheep and goats.
Komen said the wild animal killed his sheep between Sunday night and Tuesday, May 27. He called for compensation from the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS).
"While we complain about the losses we have incurred so far, we are worried about the safety of our children who report to school in the morning. How safe are our children?" the farmer asked.
Confirming the incident, Kibuswo sub-location assistant chief Gilbert Chepsiror said the animal visits villages past midnight, wreak havoc, and run to safety in the nearby forests.
"We believe that this animal, which we suspect belong to the cat family, suffocates sheep and goats at around 3:00 am, drain their blood, eat the brains and intestines before running to either Milimani state forest or Kapcherop forest," Chepsiror said.
Kipchumba Birir, the Chepsiro/Kiptoror Member of County Assembly (MCA), called on the residents of the four affected villages to be cautious so that they are not devoured by animals.
Source: Original
Trans Nzoia MCA asks men to return home early
Birir also urged elderly men and young men who like hanging around trading centres until late at night to adjust their schedules and go back home before darkness sets in.
"Our preliminary investigations point to the possibility of the animal being a leopard. In that regard, we are asking our people to be extra vigilant and, where possible, they should avoid walking around during the night so that they don't make themselves easy targets of the dangerous animals," Birir told TUKO.co.ke.
Following the residents' outcry, visited the area, on Tuesday, May 27, to assess the magnitude of the damage caused.
They promised that the suspected wild animal would be captured and returned to where it came from.
The officers have since set traps in strategic locations in the four villages to capture the animals behind the killings.
Trans Nzoia stray dogs bite 12
Previously, TUKO.co.ke reported that locals in Kiptenden farm, within Cherang'any constituency were living in fear over increased number of dogs suspected to be infected with rabies that were roaming in the area.
The locals lamented that the dogs had already bitten at least 12 people, among them a mother and a her child.
They hit out the officials from the Department of Livestock over their failure to respond to their concerns.
Proofreading by Asher Omondi, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
Joshua Cheloti (Editorial assistant) Joshua Cheloti is a multi-skilled journalist with over 5 years of experience in the media industry. He holds a Diploma in Journalism and Mass Communication and is pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Media and Communication at Mount Kenya University. At TUKO, he's an editorial assistant. Before TUKO, he worked at Nairobi Review as an editorial writer, at Hope Media (Hope TV and Hope FM) as a correspondent in Eldoret, Hivisasa.com digital content editor and online writer, at Biblia Husema Broadcasting (BHB), Eldoret as Radio Presenter. Email: Joshua.cheloti@tuko.co.ke
Emanuel Tarus I am professional multi-media journalist with eight years experience as a field-based correspondent. Integrity, objectivity and adherence to ethical standards are my guiding principles in journalism. I am based in Trans Nzoia county and very passionate about gender, crime, environment and climate change reporting. I am also interested in health, human interest, development, leadership and governance beats. In the future, I would like to specialize in diplomacy and geopolitics reporting to expand my reporting scope.
