Residents of Naishi-Game Pwani village in Njoro are living in fear, after a python attacked and swallowed a dog.

According to locals, the python invaded Mr. Njau Njenga’s residential home neighbouring Lake Nakuru national park on Saturday night.

Mtaa Wangu has learnt that the 9.30pm incident saw the python swallow the dog whole.

Mr Njenga who is still in shock, says he heard funny noises being made by his dog, prompting him to go outside.

It is here that he noticed his dog was swallowed half way by the python.

“I mobilized my neighbours and we tried to scare off the python but our efforts were in vain and we retreated back to our houses at around 1am on Saturday,” Mr Njenga recalls.

On Sunday morning, he made a call to area chief Jane Wangui who in turn informed Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) officers from the game park.

The officers arrived and took away the python that was immobile after swallowing the dog.

This is not the first time that the locals are encountering intrusion of wild animals into their homes.

According to Mr Njenga, such cases have been rampant, with domestic animals among them sheep being attacked by wild animals such as leopards.

"We have reported these occurrences to KWS before but the cases keep recurring. It is as if the KWS do not care about our complaints," he laments.

The locals are now calling on the management of Lake Nakuru national park to intervene and tame their animals.

A few weeks ago, two men were found with a hyena’s carcass outside CITAM church ready to eat it.

It was believed that the animal had come from the park and was hit by a car when crossing the busy Nakuru-Nairobi highway.

However, KWS officers arrived on time and took the animal away before the two devoured it.

pmambili@gmail.com

Python pays a visit to Njoro residents

Author Spotlight

Pristone Mambili