Residents of Lala village, located within Homa Bay town, are living in fear following a suspected leopard attack that left eight sheep dead in a single night.
The sheep, belonging to local farmer, Apollo Otieno, were discovered lifeless, with one carcass partially eaten and its internal organs torn apart.
The recent incident follows a similar attack two weeks ago in which a wild animal dragged away and devoured one of Otieno’s guard dogs near a neighboring homestead.
Initial speculation pointed to a hyena, but Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) officers who visited the scene believe a leopard was behind the killings.
According to the officers, the pattern, where multiple animals are killed but only one is partially consumed is characteristic of leopards rather than hyenas.
Concerned residents have linked the attack to the village’s proximity to Ruma National Park, suspecting the predator may have strayed from the reserve. They are now urging KWS to act swiftly to prevent further attacks.
Homa Bay County KWS Warden Officer Jackson Kubor confirmed the incident and said investigations are ongoing.
He assured residents that a trap would be set to capture the animal and urged the community to remain alert.
