(CNN) Kenyan rangers killed a lion that pounced on a man in a crowd after it escaped from a park in the capital of Nairobi. 
 
 The man, who was hospitalized with deep lacerations and bruises, had joined hundreds of bystanders surrounding the animal. 
 
 The death of Mohawk, a majestic 13-year-old big cat so named because of the shape of his black mane, sparked an outcry among Kenyans. Citizens used hashtag #JusticeforMohawk to ask why rangers did not tranquilize him instead. 
 
 'Last resort' 
 
 Kenya Wildlife Service spokesman Paul Udoto said the lion escaped from the Nairobi National Park on Wednesday and ended up in Isinya town, 12 miles away. 
 
 Veterinary teams headed to Isinya after they got word on Mohawk's whereabouts. 
 
 But noise and commotion from bystanders agitated the animal, prompting it to attack the man. In order to save lives, rangers shot it to death before veterinarians arrived with tranquilizers, Udoto said. 
 
 "This action was taken as a last resort after an escalation of the situation and a concern for public safety," the Kenya Wildlife Service said. 
 
 Lion selfies 
 
 The Nairobi National Park has had several lion escapes in recent weeks . All but Mohawk have been recaptured alive. 
 
 In a separate incident this month, a lion escaped from the park and mauled a man on a busy street in the capital. 
 
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 Last month, a pride of lions made its way into residential areas in Nairobi in the dead of the night, leaving officials scrambling to find them. Some animals eventually returned to the park. 
 
 Residents have complicated efforts to recapture the animals by trying to take selfies with them, Udoto has said in the past. 
 
 "Are you out of your senses?" he asked. 
 
 Electric fence 
 
 Nairobi National Park is home to leopards, buffaloes, giraffes and other animals grazing in sprawling grasslands -- the city's skyscrapers in the background. It is largely bounded by an electric fence to keep animals inside. 
 
 But its south side -- away from the city -- is bordered by a river. It's unclear whether that's the path the lions use to sneak out. 
 
 A ranger of Kenya Wildflife Serive aims his gun at a lion on March 30. 
 
 Why are lions escaping? 
 
 The Kenya Wildlife Service said it is unsure why there is a surge in escapes, but conservationists cite habitat loss as the central reason. 
 
 As one of the fastest growing African cities, property values are increasing in Nairobi, and the park is getting encroached on by lucrative development projects. 
 
 The government also started building a highway through a section of the park, agitating the animals with constant noise. 
 
 South African lion sneaks out 
 
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 In a separate incident on the other side of the continent, Sylvester the lion broke out of a national park in South Africa, officials said. 
 
 South African officials vowed to put him down once they capture him, prompting a Twitter hashtag #SaveSylvester and an online petition to rescue the big cat. 
 
 This is not the first time Sylvester has strayed away from the park. 
 
 Conservationists have a reason to try and save the king of the jungle. ||||| Kenya's celebrity lion Mohawk is dead. 
 
 The most famous lion in Kenya died a horrific, agonising — and many people say senseless — death. He was killed on Wednesday morning by rangers after he strayed from Nairobi National Park. 
 
 Mohawk had been tormented for hours before KWS rangers arrived and killed him. 
 
 Social media is in an uproar over what is being called the brutal and needless killing of the 13-year-old star attraction, beloved by tourists. Video shows the lion roaring and writhing in pain as he is felled by at nine bullets. 
 
 The killing has been described as heinous. 
 
 There was no attempt to tranquillise the black-maned lion, known as the "ladies lion" because he was often with females. 
 
 He was named Mohawk for his distinctive Mohawk-style mane that rose in a tuft from his forehead. 
 
 Mohawk had been cornered, surrounded, taunted and stoned for about six hours before he lunged at a passing boda boda rider in Isinya, Kajiado county. The man was knocked down and clawed as the lion tried to flee his tormentors. 
 
 Local officials had tried to protect Mohawk until KWS arrived, but a crowd arrived and morans attacked him with arrows and spears. He broke through the crowd and attacked the boda boda in his way. 
 
 When KWS rangers arrived, they said they had no choice but to kill him. Tranquilliser darts would take minutes to take effect and in that time the enraged lion might injure others, they said. 
 
 Mohawk was just 30km from the park, where he was born. 
 
 “We have been here all these hours protecting this lion. The rangers came with guns but we suggested the lion be sedated and taken back to the park. They have spoiled everything by killing the cat. This is wrong,” Isinya deputy county commissioner David Kipkemei told the Star. 
 
 About Mohawk 
 
 Mohawk was one of 35 lions in Nairobi National Park, one of 2,000 nationwide. He was born in the park in 2003. 
 
 He belonged to the King Fisher pride of lions that roamed the Park Forest, King Fisher picnic site, Lion Corner, Maasai Gate and Hyena Dam within the park. 
 
 He was the only male seen repeatedly in the company of lionesses. He had a five-year-old companion. 
 
 KWS spokesman Paul Udoto said Mohawk was beloved. 
 
 "It is unfortunate the southern part of the park is not fenced. It serves as a seasonal park where animals migrate indifferent seasons. We suspect Mohawk could have moved out through the area," Udoto told the Star on the phone. 
 
 Also read: Lion guarded six hours, only for KWS rangers to shoot it dead 
 
 Resident Jason Parantai had called the Star at 6am, saying the lion had been spotted and residents informed local police. He said the animal was tormented and stressed. 
 
 “If the rangers had the right equipment, this lion would not have died. You can't keep a lion in the midst of people for so many hours without stressing it, We blame them for this heinous act,” Parantai said. 
 
 Environment CS Judi Wakhungu blamed the infrastructure projects at the wedge of Nairobi National Park for the increasing number of stray lions. 
 
 Shee said major construction, especially on the Western and Southern part of the park, generate a lot of noise that disturbs the lions that causes them to leave the park. 
 
 As a result of construction, all the electric fencing — intended to keep animals inside — has been destroyed. 
 
 "We are working with contractors to ensure they maintain the integrity of the park and keep all animals safe," Wakhungu said. 
 
 She said though her priority is to safeguard wildlife, talks are underway with the Kenya Railways Corporation and the Transport ministry on how to balance how to balance sustainable management of natural resources and infrastructure development. 
 
 Read more on this story: Nairobi Park Diary: The Mohawk walk 
 
 Nairobi Park Diary: The Awesome Foursome ||||| 1 of 10 Full Screen Autoplay Close Skip Ad × The moment a lion is shot dead after attacking a man in Kenya View Photos Wildlife officials in Kenya shot the escaped lion several times after it injured a person in the Kajiado district, said Paul Udoto, a spokesman for the Kenya Wildlife Service. Caption Wildlife officials in Kenya shot the escaped lion several times after it injured a person in the Kajiado district, said Paul Udoto, a spokesman for the Kenya Wildlife Service. March 30, 2016 A stray lion passes in front of a car after escaping from a Kenyan park. AFP/Getty Images Buy Photo Wait 1 second to continue. 
 
 Mohawk the lion, one of Kenya’s most famous big cats, was fatally shot Wednesday by wildlife rangers. In a country that has invested millions in protecting its wildlife, Kenyans are trying to figure out what went wrong. 
 
 The animal management team that first arrived had no tranquilizers, only rifles. A second, with tranquilizers, was on its way, but the first team killed the animal before arriving because he posed an immediate threat to human life, a spokesman for Kenya Wildlife Services said. 
 
 “We lost one of our best lions,” said Nelly Palmeris, a senior park warden at Nairobi National Park. 
 
 It turns out that a group of men had surrounded the lion in the town of Isinya, 20 miles from Nairobi, the capital. They took pictures. They threw rocks at him. Finally, Mohawk raised his paw and thrashed one of the men. 
 
 Mohawk the Lion, one of Kenya's most famous big cats, was shot and killed Wednesday, March 30 by wildlife rangers. (Reuters) 
 
 “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,” said Kenya Wildlife Service spokesman Paul Gathitu. 
 
 In pictures of the shooting, the lion appears to be walking on an unpopulated stretch of farmland when a ranger takes aim, striking the animal's right leg. 
 
 “I am outraged, disgusted and grossly disappointed with Kenya Wildlife Services,” Aisha Tande, a Nairobi resident, tweeted. 
 
 In Nairobi, Mohawk — with a shock of hair rising from his head — was well known to tourists, a lion that had become accustomed to the sight of safari trucks and camera-toting visitors. He was featured in a local newspaper’s travel article last year. 
 
 “Mohawk did not appear to be concerned about all the cars behind him and he continued to walk at a leisurely pace as he enjoyed the freshness of the morning,” Gareth Jones wrote in the Star newspaper. 
 
 This was the third time in two months that lions had escaped from Nairobi National Park. One found its way to a military barracks, another to a strip of land near the international airport. 
 
 The population around the park has grown more than tenfold since it was established in 1946. Where the lions once would have wandered peacefully, they now encounter suburbs, farms and commercial buildings. If Mohawk hadn’t been surrounded, he wouldn’t have been shot. 
 
 He had escaped from Nairobi National Park two days ago, forced out in a territorial dispute with another lion. So he walked south, looking for another place to roam, slipping through an unfenced portion of the park. 
 
 In another corner of Africa on Wednesday, another lion was being hunted after escaping from a park. 
 
 In South Africa, a lion named Sylvester had escaped from Karoo National Park. Like in Kenya, wildlife officials said he posed a threat. On Wednesday, they prepared to kill him. 
 
 “The decision taken earlier today to put him down was not taken lightly,” South African National Parks tweeted. 
 
 “He is clearly a troublesome lion and could be a danger to humans,” Reynold Thakhuli, a spokesman for South African National Parks, told the Agence France-Presse. 
 
 The International Union for Conservation of Nature considers the African lion a “vulnerable” species. A study last year found that its population had declined by 50 percent in the past 20 years. 
 
 Read more: 
 
 Lions are actually raised to be killed in South Africa. And American hunters love it. 
 
 2 subspecies of lion will be added to the endangered species list, activists say 
 
 Climate change could devastate Africa. It’s already hurting this Kenyan town. ||||| A ranger from the Kenya Wildlife Service shoots dead a male lion that had strayed from the Nairobi National Park, in Kajiado, Kenya Wednesday, March 30, 2016. A lion was shot dead in Kenya on Wednesday... (Associated Press) 
 
 JOHANNESBURG (AP) — A lion was shot dead in Kenya on Wednesday after attacking a man, while trackers in South Africa searched for a lion whose escape from a park prompted appeals to wildlife officials to relocate it rather than kill it. 
 
 The two cases of African lions on the loose highlight the difficult balance between protecting people and conserving lions, whose numbers have declined dramatically over the past century because of unregulated hunting, a loss of habitat and growing conflict with livestock herders. Concern about the threatened species intensified last year when an American dentist killed a lion named Cecil in a hunt in Zimbabwe that officials said was illegal. 
 
 The circumstances of the stray lions also fueled questions about whether to dart a potentially dangerous predator with a tranquilizer and return it to a fenced area, or kill it before it can attack people. Such decisions depend on factors including the training of wildlife experts, their resources and whether the area where a lion is roaming is densely populated. In some cases, local residents have killed lions before officials arrived on the scene. 
 
 Wildlife officials in Kenya shot the escaped lion several times after it injured a man in the Kajiado district, near Nairobi, the capital, said Paul Udoto, a spokesman for the Kenya Wildlife Service. 
 
 Officials had planned to capture the lion, but the animal become too agitated by the noise of a gathering crowd and had to be killed, he said. 
 
 Another senior Kenyan wildlife official, Kitili Mbathi, blamed a faulty electrical fence for the lion's escape from Nairobi National Park. 
 
 However, a later statement from the Kenya Wildlife Service said the lion was killed in a wildlife migration area outside the park's southern section, which is not fenced, and that the lion was trying to establish new territory. The 13-year-old male lion named Mohawk had recently been involved in territorial fights, according to the statement. 
 
 The lion struck a 27-year-old man on a motorcycle who was among 400 people surrounding the lion, the wildlife service said. The man suffered deep lacerations on his back as well as bruises from falling off the bike, it said. 
 
 It was the second incident this month involving a stray lion in Kenya. On March 18, a lion mauled a pedestrian in Nairobi before being captured. Nairobi National Park, which covers 117 square kilometers (45 square miles) on the outskirts of the city, is home to endangered black rhinos, lions, leopards, cheetahs, giraffes and diverse birdlife. The park is under growing pressure as the city expands. 
 
 In South Africa, wildlife officials backtracked from earlier statements that they would kill a lion that escaped from Karoo National Park because it was a threat to humans. Those statements were met with an outcry from people who say the lion, dubbed Sylvester in local media, should be captured and relocated. It is the lion's second escape from the park, located in an arid and sparsely populated part of South Africa. 
 
 Last year, wildlife staff also labeled the Karoo lion "Spook" — "Ghost" in the Afrikaans language — because of its ability to stay one step ahead of searchers during its first breakout. 
 
 The South African parks service said they are now considering various options, including returning the lion to the park and improving its fencing, moving the lion to another park, donating the lion to a conservation group or killing it if it causes "massive" damage — an apparent reference to livestock it may kill — or is a direct threat to humans. 
 
 "Specifically, the loss of human life poses an even greater danger as the animal may lose fear for humans and see them as easy prey," the parks service said in a statement. 
 
 It said the search for the lion is hampered by difficult terrain and windy conditions that prevented an aerial search. Trackers on foot are also concerned about "a possible ambush" by the lion, the statement said. 
 
 The 3-year-old male lion escaped several days ago. It is wearing a satellite tracking collar that was installed after last year's escape, during which it eluded capture for more than three weeks and killed 28 sheep, one cow and one kudu antelope. 
 
 ___ 
 
 Muhumuza reported from Kampala, Uganda.
– An escaped lion, a taunting crowd, and an ill-prepared first-response team came together in Kenya to cause what some are saying was the unnecessary, senseless death of the lion, the country's Star reports. Mohawk, a 13-year-old lion who was one of Nairobi National Park's most well-known creatures due to his trademark mane and rep as somewhat of a "ladies' lion," had escaped from an unfenced section of the park and ended up in the town of Isinya, where he was promptly surrounded by a jeering group of men, the Washington Post reports. Mohawk became upset by the noise and the growing crowd—Kenya Wildlife Service officials tell the AP about 400 had surrounded him—and lunged at a 27-year-old man, who was sent to the hospital with bruises and severe lacerations on his back. The wildlife service already had an animal management team on the scene, but those rangers had only rifles, not tranquilizers. After Mohawk pounced on the bystander, the rangers felt they couldn't wait for a second team on its way with tranqs—so they unleashed what the Star says was nine bullets, leaving the animal "roaring and writhing in pain" as he died. "If the rangers had the right equipment, this lion would not have died," a local resident tells the paper. "You can't keep a lion in the midst of people for so many hours without stressing it. We blame them for this heinous act." The shooting has prompted plenty of backlash on social media, including a #JusticeForMohawk hashtag, but the wildlife service says it had no choice once the lion started attacking humans. "This action was taken as a last resort after an escalation of the situation and a concern for public safety," the Kenya Wildlife Service says, per CNN. A bunch of lions have busted out of the park lately, driven by what conservationists say is the noise from development projects, including a highway being built through the park. (Same ending, different means for Cecil the lion.)