Two Lionesses Escape Nairobi National Park, Sighted in Ongata Rongai Area

Residents in Ongata Rongai advised to exercise caution as wildlife teams pursue big cats

KAJIADO – The Kenya Wildlife Service has issued an urgent advisory to residents of Ongata Rongai following the escape of two lionesses from Nairobi National Park.

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In a statement released Wednesday, January 7, the wildlife authority confirmed that the big cats were last observed near Sholinke Trading Centre, located approximately eight kilometers from the park’s boundary. The sighting area lies roughly nine kilometers from central Ongata Rongai.

KWS provided specific coordinates—37 M 261961 UTM 9834651—marking the last known location of the animals.

“Two lionesses from Nairobi National Park have been sighted in the Sholinke Trading Area, approximately 8.3 km from the park boundary. KWS teams are actively managing the situation,” the service stated.

A specialized response team comprising rangers and veterinary personnel has been deployed to locate, tranquilize, and safely return the lions to their protected habitat. The operation remains underway with public safety identified as the primary concern.

“KWS rangers are on site, and veterinary teams are en route to safely dart, capture, and relocate the lionesses. The operation is ongoing, with public safety as the top priority,” the authority added.

Local residents have been advised to avoid the affected area, keep children indoors, and immediately report any sightings through the KWS toll-free number 0800 597 000 or via WhatsApp at 0726 610 509.

Wildlife incursions into populated areas surrounding Nairobi National Park have become increasingly frequent, with lions and hyenas regularly venturing beyond park boundaries into residential zones, particularly in Rongai and neighboring communities.

In March 2025, security camera footage captured a lioness wandering through a residential neighborhood in Rongai, causing alarm among local inhabitants. The recorded video showed the animal approaching a secured compound entrance before scaling the concrete wall adjacent to the metal gate.

Public reaction to such incidents has been mixed, with some expressing legitimate safety concerns while others note that residential development has encroached upon traditional wildlife corridors and habitat zones.

Earlier in January of the same year, KWS teams successfully captured another lioness spotted near Rongai residential areas. Wildlife officials suggested at the time that the animal may have been the parent of two other lions captured in 2024 after similarly leaving their natural territory.

The recurring wildlife encounters underscore ongoing tensions between urban expansion and wildlife conservation in Kenya’s capital region, where Nairobi National Park borders densely populated suburbs.

KWS continues to monitor the situation and has assured the public that all necessary measures are being implemented to ensure both human safety and animal welfare during the capture operation.

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