Woman saves son from the jaws of hyenas

By KIPCHUMBA KEMEI

Narok, Kenya: A woman is nursing injuries after successfully fighting off three hyenas that had grabbed her three-year-old son in Maasai Mara.

The woman, who sustained injuries on her hands and face, had left the boy a few metres from a water point as she fetched the commodity when the beasts pounced on him on Tuesday evening.

“I heard cries and rushed to scene only to find three hyenas pulling him towards a nearby thicket. I raised the alarm as I tried to rescue the boy,” said Diana Kapei, whose son escaped unhurt in the incident.

Ms Kapei, who was rushed to a health facility in Aitong area near the game reserve, said it was through ‘God’s grace’ that she managed to ward off the beasts.

Ms Kapei, who was treated and discharged, said a woman was killed by a pride of lions at the same spot several months ago as she went to fetch water.

She attributed the rise in the human-wildlife conflicts in the area to the biting drought in the Mara region that had caused water shortage.

“During the dry season, wild animals are forced to compete with people and livestock for water. This fuels the conflict,” she said.

Villagers described Kapei’s action as an act of bravery, adding that she should be feted for the heroic deed.

“She is a brave woman who managed to save her life and her son’s. We have never seen this before. She should be rewarded for doing what many people in the same circumstances could have not done,” said David Lasoi, her neighbour.

James Sanamwala, the chairman of Oljorai Wildlife Trust in the Mara, asked the Kenya Wildlife Service to drive wildlife roaming in settlement areas to the parks and game reserves.

He at the same time applauded the National Assembly for passing the Wildlife Management and Conservation Bill yesterday, which provides for compensation for animal attack victims among other things.

“KWS should confine wild animals to their areas to curb further conflict which is being exacerbated by drought. The passing of the law will ensure victims are compensated and it will go a long way to conserve wildlife,” he said. The incident comes barely two weeks after a pride of lions held a family hostage for more than four hours in Talek after invading their homestead.