Kenya Wildlife Service has been alarmed by a rare case of male buffaloes roaming around the bush without their balls.
The hyenas have been feeding on their private parts, a scenario that has send them into a frenzy of questions
According to one of the KWS official, the first incident was reported in Aberdare National Park back in 2008.
“The incidents of hyenas biting off testicles and tails of buffaloes are everyday occurrences in the National Park. Tens of buffaloes are partly deformed after hyenas chewed off some parts,”Aberdare National Park KWS Senior Warden Lilian Ajuoga said
The incident has been caused by lack of Lions, who usually leave behind caucuses for hyenas
“In this case, hyenas are forced to hunt instead of scavenging for 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 says
Hyenas, thus will target hanging parts of buffalos such as testicls and also tails
“Hyenas literally feast on prey when they are still alive because they cannot kill. In the National Park, hyenas target young buffalo bulls so they can strip off the ‘loose-hanging’ parts,” she says.
KWS is already planning a strategy to manage the condition that has left tens of buffalos without their private parts
“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,” she adds.
Other plans would be to introduce Lions in the park so as to allow hyenas to go back to the niche as scavengers.
