Residents of Mufunje and Mufutu villages in Lugari Sub County are living in fear following the presence of an unknown wild animal roaming in the area killing and eating their dogs.
The villagers led by Thomas Luvekho, community policing official, claim that they have lost more than 20 dogs to the beast.
According to him, the dangerous animal that has been going round the villages killing residents’ dogs appeared last night forcing locals to wrestle it but it went into hiding in a sugar plantation.
“Last night we were invaded by a roaming wild animal at around 2.00 am where it attacked our dogs. It eats the intestine, ribs and behind leg of the dogs,” Luvekho noted, adding that the animal produces a strange voice that is frightening and scares most of them from going out.
They said the animal has killed a total of 17 dogs in Mufunje village and four dogs in the neighboring Mufutu village.
According to Wilberforce Asava, a resident, he came in contact with the animal which ran into a neighboring sugar plantation.
“The animal resembles a lioness, but it has long fur and produces a strange sharp voice that’s alarming to the ears. Mostly it attacks female dogs,” said Asava.
Obed Okwavi says the strange animal likes staying in highland areas and mostly resurfaces during the night.
Locals say it is the first time the wild beast is invading the villages killing their dogs and thus they fear that they might continue losing their animals if immediate action is not taken to save them from the disaster.
“We are living in fear since the primate’s whereabouts are not known and thus the dangerous animals might return to kill our animals. Children cannot report to school early for fear of being attacked,” Okwavi noted.
Another resident, Phelistus Mulongo said “Our greatest fear is that this beast might return to our animals and also attack us, especially the young children who may not be in a position to defend themselves which may lead to loss of lives or body injuries.”
Mulongo is now appealing to Kenya Wildlife Service officers to make haste and lay traps to ensure they remove the animal from the villages before situations worsen.