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Lions kill three children near Tanzania wildlife reserve

Lions kill three children near Tanzania wildlife reserve

Five lions manage to escape zoo enclosure in Sydney

Threeyoungchildrenwere killed bylionsnearTanzania's world-renowned Ngorongorowildlifereserveas they went to look for lost cattle, police said on Thursday.

The youngsters aged between nine and 11 had arrived home from school on Monday and gone into a forestnearthe Ngorongoro Conservation Area to search for the missing animals, Arusha police chief Justine Masejo said.

"That is when thelionsattacked and killedthreechildrenwhile injuring one," he added.

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Ngorongoro in northernTanzaniais a World Heritage Site that is home towildlifeincluding big cats such aslions, cheetahs and leopards.

"I would like to urge the nomadic communities around the reserved areas to take precautions against fierce animals especially when they task theirchildrento take care of the livestock. That will help to protect thechildrenand their families," Masejo said.

Tanzaniaallows some communities such as the Maasai, who graze their livestock alongside wild animals, to live within national parks.

However, they are often in conflict with animals such aslionsand elephants which can attack people, livestock and destroy crops.

Last year,Tanzaniarelocated 36lionsfrom the Serengeti National Park after attacks on humans and cattle from the surrounding communities.