Two herdsmen were mauled by a hyena In Masalani garissacounty

Two herdsmen were mauled by a hyena and 12 of their goats killed on Sunday afternoon in Ijara

Two herdsmen were mauled by a hyena and 12 of their goats killed on Sunday afternoon in Ijara district, Garissa County.

The victims were attacked in a grazing field in broad daylight at Dawelweyn village, some 50 kilometers from Masalani town by the lone hyena.

Speaking at Ijara district hospital after visiting the victims, the Kenya Wildlife Service warden in charge of Ijara/Tana-River districts Juma Bakari said the two were attacked after they attempted to stop the hyena from killing more of their goats.

“The hyenas attacked the goats on the grazing field and killed at least 12 of them. The herdsmen attempted to chase away the furious hyena, but in an unusual turn of events the hyena fought back, fiercely mauling the two herdsmen,” Mr Bakari said.

“It is not normal for hyenas to be so stubborn and fight back as in this case. We suspect the hyena involved is suffering from some behavioural change or a certain disease. But we shall establish exactly what could be the cause after further investigations into its blood samples” he added.

DESCENDED ON HERD

The warden said the two herdsmen wounded by the animal were being treated at Ijara district hospital noting that one of the victims who was mauled on the left leg up to knee and on the right arm was in critical condition, while his colleague who had his right arm chewed was out of danger.

He identified the victims as Ahmed Hussein, 39 and Ahmed Siyad, 18. Ahmed Hussein who is stable said from his hospital bed that the hyena descended onto his herd of goats which were grazing at about 1pm and started killing animals.

“When the hyena killed my goats, I tried to stop it from further damage to my stock. I was expecting as common the hyena will run away, but instead it left the goats and turned on me,” he said, adding that when his colleague came to his aid the beast pounced on him as well.

Dr Bishar Hussein, who was attending to the victims, said one of the victims required surgery.