Today the Selenkay pride are a shining example of how lions living on community lands can overcome the immense challenges they face in the battle for coexistence. And their story of survival can be credited to one amazing lioness – Selenkay. The rapid growth of her family even during most difficult times is a testament…
Family Feuds
Most cats are loners; lions are one of the few cat species that live communally. Recently we were advised by the Game Watchers Porini guides in Selenkay conservancy, that members of the Selenkay Pride were nursing some injuries. The uppermost question in our minds was what could possibly have happened? When we went to check…
Sunte Ole Ndeke – Our Wise Mzee
Sunte Ole Ndeke grew up in Inchakita area, Olgulului group ranch. He currently works with Lion Guardians as a security Guard. Sunte regrets that he never got a chance to go to school. During a team bonding event, he narrated a story from his childhood about how his father denied him that chance he longed…
Olamayiani’s Journey: From killing to protecting
Olamayiani has been a Guardian for the last two and a half years and he believes that in being one he has molded into a great conservationist. He says that the income that he receives from being a Guardian has enabled him to support his young family. Olamayiani adds that unlike other married but unemployed…
Olamayiani’s Journey : A Family of Warriors
Olamayiani Saitoti is a Guardian from the Lenkisim area in Eselenkei Group Ranch. He is part of the Iltuati age-set that has just graduated from being herders to warriors. When he was a young boy his elder sisters trained him on how to be a good herder. At the age of 5, he accompanied them…
News from Akagera makes Lion Guardians team proud and happy
Last year, in September, Stephanie, Eric and Kisimir went to Akagera National Park to build the capabilities and confidence of the rangers to monitor the newly re-introduced lions. Just the other day, we heard the fantastic news that seven cubs had been observed in the park, effectively doubling the lion population. The following is a…
Meet a Guardian – Mitiaki Solonka
This month, our Lion Guardians Office Manager, John Merishi spoke to Mitiaki Solonka about his life’s journey to becoming a Guardian. John says “The soft- spoken Mitiaki narrated how he grew from a young boy who despised wildlife to a senior warrior who is now passionate about conservation.” Read his full story here: The young…
Transforming into a Guardian
The memory of killing innocent cubs haunted Olubi for two years. Even today, the incident is still fresh in his mind and he can recall with exquisite detail everything that happened on that Saturday in May 2004. Instead of feeling like a hero, the incident always evoked a deep sadness whenever he thought about it.…
Becoming Mitiaki
In 1997, two years after the incident, Olubi Olokusie became an initiated warrior, a murran. As a young murran, he aspired to kill a lion in order to become a hero and subsequently acquire a lion name. He dreamed of once again feeling the pride that came with protecting his community & family’s livestock. As…
The Brave Son of Olokusie
When he was a young boy, Olubi enjoyed herding his father’s livestock. While performing his daily duty of herding cows, he would often see lions and other wild animals in the grazing fields. In 1995, when he was about 14 years old, a big male lion attacked his father’s cattle at Emporokuai while he was…