KWS raises red flag over hyenas chomping off buffalo balls

At the Aberdare National Park, all is not well. Hungry hyenas have resorted to biting off buffalo testicles and tails as a means of sourcing for food.

The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) is now raising the red flag over the issue which has left a number of the wild beasts deformed.

Aberdare National Park Senior Warden Lilian Ajuoga says that the issue has escalated since it was first reported in 2008.

“The incidences of hyenas biting of testicles and tails of buffaloes are everyday occurrences in the national park. Tens of buffaloes are partly deformed after hyenas chewed off some parts,” The senior warden told The Standard.

Ms Ajuoga said that the incidences are as a result of a misbalance in the eco-system occasioned by lack of lions of the park which has left the hyenas without any leftovers to feed on.

“In this case, hyenas are forced to hunt instead of scavenging on leftovers that have been left by other predators. This forces them to hunt on easily available things and since they lack the power to strangle, they depend on biting off hanging parts for survival,” she said.

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KWS is now planning to launch a headcount of the animals as a measure to arrest the situation that has exposed the buffaloes to the scavengers.

“We are planning on a doing an animal count so as to establish the number of hyenas for purposes of management to avoid cases of unsustainability. This will also help in boosting survival for both hyenas and buffaloes,” Ms Ajuoga said.

She added that translocation of lions to the park will put an end to the situation.

What’s more, KWS is also mooting deploying researchers at the national park who will be tasked with studying the problem and making recommendations before any action is taken.

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“This thing has been on-going for a while but that does not mean the population of buffaloes is going down. One healthy buffalo with intact organs can still mate with 50 females and successfully sire,” said Kenya Wildlife Service Assistant Director in charge of Mountain Areas Simon Gitau.