Anger as famous lion SHOT DEAD by rangers because they RAN OUT of tranquilizers
A LION'S bloody demise has been captured in shocking photos which sparked outrage after it was gunned down.
Mohawk the lion is shot dead
Explicit shots show the fully grown male lion, named Mohawk, lying dead on the floor, bleeding and riddled with bullets.
The king of the jungle was shot dead by a park ranger after it wandered out of Kenya's Nairobi National Park.
The beast was roaming the surrounding town of Isinya, 20 miles from the capital, before allegedly mauling a man.
But there are claims the popular animal, one of the country's most famous attractions, was surrounded by a 20-strong mob who hurled rocks at him.
Stray lion shot dead after attacking a man in Nairobi
Eventually Mohawk lashed out with his paw and struck the man. The victim was said to have needed hospital treatment.
The first team of Kenyan rangers at the scene reportedly had no tranquillisers, only rifles.
Mohawk the lion is shot
Mohawk before he was shot
Despite a second truck on its way with the sedatives, the rangers opened fire as they deemed Mohawk an immediate threat, Kenya Wildlife Services (KWS) said.
KWS spokesman Paul Gathitu said: “When it injured that person, it became imminent to us that it could lead to a worse situation and it had to be brought down.”
it became imminent to us that it could lead to a worse situation and it had to be brought down
But Nelly Palmeris, a senior park warden at the park, said: “We lost one of our best lions.”
Mohawk was said to be unfazed by safari trucks and tourists, and easily recognisable by his distinctive mane.
Ranger shoots Mohawk
Police spokesman David Kipkemei, spoke after the incident, which drew a large crowd.
He said: "The population was growing, excitement was there which triggered the animal to be wild.
"But I expected the KWS people to disable the animal, but not kill."
Mohawk lies bleeding
The killing comes after global outrage at the slaughter of lion Cecil, in Zimbabwe, last year.
The popular big cat was hunted down by US dentist Walter Palmer, who faced international condemnation for the kill after photos of him posing with the corpse surfaced online.
There were calls for him to face charges, but none were brought and he was able to return home.
Mohawk is the third lion to stray away from the 29,000 acre reserve in recent months.
The cats reportedly returned of their own accord.
The park is only partly fenced to allow the lions to migrate naturally.