Loonkiito, Kenya's oldest known lion, has been killed by local herders, wildlife authorities confirmed on Friday.
The 19-year-old male was killed by Maasai morans, or warriors, after he wandered into a livestock pen on the outskirts of Amboseli National Park.
The park is renowned for its close-up experiences with free-ranging elephants and other wildlife.
“It was an old lion that had issues … getting prey on its own and livestock is easy prey,” said Paul Jinaro, a spokesman for Kenya Wildlife Service.
“A normal lion would go for wildlife inside the park.”
African lions generally live up to 18 years in the wild, according to conservation group Cats for Africa.
The Kenya Wildlife Service had previously called Loonkiito a “legendary big cat warrior” who had staunchly defended his territory for more than a decade.
“It is with heavy hearts that we share the news of the passing of Loonkiito (2004-2023), the oldest male lion in our ecosystem and possibly in Africa,” the non-profit Lion Guardians said on Facebook.
The lion's death shines a light on a growing issue in Kenya: encounters between wildlife and humans have been on the rise in recent years as urban development encroaches on animal habitats.
“People need to be sensitised on looking for a way to alert us and then we can take animals back to the parks,” Mr Jinaro said.
In 2021, a lion strayed from Nairobi National Park into a densely populated neighbourhood, causing widespread panic.
The park is 7 kilometres away from the Kenyan capital and incidents of wildlife venturing into the bustling city of more than four million people are not uncommon.
In December 2019, a lion killed a man right outside the park, and in March 2016, a lion was shot after injuring a local resident.
Kenya's wildlife population, which includes an estimated 2,500 lions, is under increasing pressure, according to the nation's first ever national wildlife census conducted in 2021.
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Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
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Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
