Kenya Fact: The Man-eaters of Tsavo
The Man-eaters of Tsavo rose to prominence after killing over 100 Indian workers who were working on the ‘Lunatic Express’, a railway bridge over the Tsavo River built by the British in 1898. The project which was led by Lt. Col. John Henry Patterson built campfires and thorn fences in an effort to scare away the cats but to no avail. Construction which was halted due to hundreds of workers fleeing the area only resumed after Patterson shot the two lions. Patterson’s’ accounts were published in his 1907 book, The Man-eaters of Tsavo which was the basis of the movies Bwana Devil (1952) and The Ghost and the Darkness (1996 - "The Ghost" and "The Darkness" were names given to the two man-eating lions).
Patterson sold the two lion’s skins to the Chicago Field Museum in 1924 for US$ 5,000 to which they still remain. The Kenya Tourist Board and the National Museums of Kenya launched an appeal to get the artefacts back though much has not been said of this since then.
November 23. 2011 08:09
Can't wait to hear the song. Am kinda doing some research on what really happened, I want to find out the real story behind this 'big story'
Liz , Kenya
May 10. 2011 11:59
I am working on recording a song in the same subject in a bid to campaign for the return of these our national heritage. Anyone interested in joining me is highly welcome. Thank you
Peter kirima , Kenya