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Lioness puts Maasai morani gallantry to test

By Staff Reporter

Four Men have been admitted in  hospital, some in critical condition after they were attacked by a female lion in Longido District last week.

Mr Jacob Sadira, who is currently admitted at the Arusha Lutheran Medical Center in Arusha city, happens to be the herder who was badly injured from the beast attack, having suffered a ripped right arm, numerous injuries throughout the body and according to doctors the victim had lost plenty of blood.

The other three victims are Mr Lemberwa Olenapurda, Mr Toto Olenapurda and Orpenear Ole Nangokole. The three  were admitted at the Kitumbeine Lutheran Hospital in Longido District and are reported to be recuperating fast.  Their  injuries were not as serious as Sadira’s. The latter wasn’t able to speak when we visited his hospital bed.

The incident, according to Mr Jamboi Baramaegu, a local elder in the area, occurred at Orkeju-Loongishu village in Kitumbeine Ward of Longido District in Arusha Region when a pack of four lions made scene at the village and headed towards a cattle enclosure aiming to take the livestock kept therein.

“It was rather strange, because lions usually hunt at night, but this pack appeared in morning hours at the time when most of the village livestock had already been taken out to graze in the field,” said Mr Baramaegu.

The  cattle enclosure which the lions were about to storm into had only newly born calves left behind by herders. The lions had already jumped into the cattle pen when some villagers spotted them and raised alarm.

The four men came out with traditional weapons including spears, clubs, swords and machetes and they were the first at the scene, attacking the invading large cats. Maasai men are known for their legendary traditional battles with lions in the wilderness.

Seeing the Maasai warriors on their trails, three of the lions jumped from the cattle pen and fled off into the wilderness but the fourth lion, a female, decided to put up a fight and attacked the four men with vengeance.

The lioness picked one target and went down with him, it took all efforts from the other three in their quest to save their mate from the claws of the 100 pound beast which was on top of him gnawing away furiously.

The lion  after badly ripping flesh from Mr Sadira, also turned to the other three and started mauling them badly until the entire village managed to make it at the scene and their combined efforts succeeded in chasing the beast away.

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