A farmer from Kihoto village in Subukia is counting losses after her six sheep were killed by a wild animal suspected to be a leopard. The farmer, Joyce Njoki, said she woke up on Thursday morning and found the sheep carcases outside her house. The carcases had marks on the neck indicating that a wild cat killed them. The animals were valued at Sh48,000. She said she did not hear any movement or sound all night and the six sheep were among 30 others which she had locked up in a room on Wednesday evening. Njoki added that she and her neighbours tried to contact the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) on the matter but their efforts were futile. The residents said they fear the animal might attack them, especially the pupils and students who go to school early in the morning. The residents are calling on the KWS to trap the animal to prevent further losses for them. Njoki has called for compensation for the killed animals.
The incident comes a month after another incident where children from Naka estate feared going to school due to a prowling leopard. The cat had allegedly killed several dogs and chicken.