A 60-year-old man was left nursing serious injuries to his face following an attack by a marauding hyena in Raya village, Garissa county.
Mzee Abdi Afi Mohamud suffered deep bite wounds around his face area and limbs following what residents termed as an unprovoked attack by the hyena.
The old man is said to have been out grazing his herd of goats when the hyena suddenly emerged from the bushes and attacked his flock.
“The old man tried to scare away the hyena after it attacked his goat, only for the wild animal to turn on him ferociously,” a source told Wananchi Reporting.
According to his neighbour Abdi Hussein, such attacks have increased tenfold due to the prevailing drought.
“These attacks only happen during drought, when the animals sneak into our homes in search of food. The attack carmel, goats, sheep and now humans. The government need to come to our aid,” said Abdi.
According to the residents, the old man was rushed to the Garissa County Referral Hospital (GCRH) by officers from Kenya Wildlife Services (KWS) whom were called to the scene.
Dr. Hussein Iman told Wananchi Reporting that the patient is stable, although he had lost a lot of blood.
“The hyena attacked his face area; eyes, and cheeks. His left eye is fine, but the right one was injured, and he may never see again, said Dr. Iman.
The doctor also said that last month alone the hospital treated three patients who sustained injuries after being attacked by hyenas in the area.
“This is the fourth case we are handling in our hospital, all of them attacked by hyenas,” he said.
Angry villagers are said to have combed the bushes for the hyena, and killed it moments after it injured Mzee.