Lions kill 200 people in Southern Ethiopia

Dec 15, 2006 (ADDIS ABABA) — An opposition party said lions killed 200 people in a district in southern Ethiopia; it urged the government to take the necessary measure to protect the population of the area.

The opposition Southern Ethiopian Peoples Democratic Union (SEPDU) headed by Prof Beyene Petros — who is also the leader of the opposition coalition United Ethiopian Democratic Forces, UEDF — has said lions have been attacking residents of Soro District in Hadiya Zone over the last two years.

Noting that 200 people were eaten by lions in Soro District over the last two years, the party said it was dismayed by the government’s indifference to the attacks, and called on the government to take necessary measures.

In a statement it issued Thursday 14 December, the party said people were being hunted and eaten by wild beasts (lions) in the 21st century since they had reached a situation where they could not defend themselves, because everyone was being disarmed.

The statement added that it was worrying that there were no experts and organizations at federal and regional levels capable of taking speedy action when wild beasts attacked people.

(ST)