Two Lionesses Escape Nairobi National Park, Sighted Near Ongata Rongai

Two lionesses have escaped from Nairobi National Park and were last seen near Sholinke Trading Centre, approximately eight kilometres from the park's boundary, prompting a safety alert for Ongata Rongai residents.

The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) has confirmed the lionesses were tracked to within nine kilometres of Ongata Rongai, a town that has experienced repeated wildlife incursions in recent years. KWS has dispatched rangers and veterinary teams to capture and relocate the animals, stressing the importance of public safety. 

Residents are advised to stay indoors, keep children safe, and report any sightings through KWS's toll-free line or WhatsApp service. KWS said, "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. 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."

This incident highlights ongoing challenges faced by communities near the park, where encounters with wildlife, including lions and hyenas, have become more frequent. In March 2025, CCTV footage showed a lioness climbing a perimeter wall outside a Rongai compound, raising concern. 

Similar incidents, such as the capture of a lioness in January 2025, underscore the growing tensions between urban development and wildlife corridors.