The 2021 Lolldaiga conservancy wildfire was a man made disaster caused by soldiers of the British Army who set fire to a nature reserve in central Kenya during a military training exercise.[1][2]
The fire destroyed 12,000 acres of land belonging to the Lolldaiga conservancy, which was home to lions, hyenas, elephants, jackles, and the rare endangered Grévy's zebra.[1]
One man, Linus Murangiri, was crushed to death by a vehicle during attempts to put out the fires.[1] There were also reports of elderly people suffering eye injuries and a baby being hospitalised for smoke inhalation.[1]
During a court hearing into the incident, some of the soldiers who started the fire were alleged to have been high on cocaine.[3] After the fire, British soldiers made jokes about the incident.[4] According to the BBC one soldier wrote: "
Two months in Kenya later and we've only got eight days left. Been good, caused a fire, killed an elephant and feel terrible about it but hey-ho, when in Rome."[1]
According to the BBC, the incident led to an environmental lawsuit signed by almost 1,000 local residents.[1] In 2022 the Kenya News Agency reported that 6,000 local residents had filed for compensation from the British Army.[5]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f "Kenyans sue the British army over fire at wildlife sanctuary". BBC News. 2021-07-26. Retrieved 2024-09-13.
- ^ "Fire breaks out in Kenya during British military exercise". Reuters. 26 March 2021. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
- ^ Reporters, Telegraph (2022-04-13). "British soldiers 'started bushfire at Kenya wildlife reserve while high on cocaine'". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 2024-09-13.
- ^ NTV Kenya (2023-07-23). BATUK soldier took to social media to mock the fire incident where Linus Murangiri died. Retrieved 2024-09-13 – via YouTube.
- ^ "Loldaiga fire victims seek compensation from British Army – Kenya News Agency". 2022-12-05. Retrieved 2024-09-13.
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