Children lost in the bush
We recently received some shocking news from Lion Guardians Olubi and Mokoi. On Thursday, they were informed that three children, aged 8, 6 and 5 years old had gone missing in the bush at Olngosua. They had been herding livestock when some of the animals that they were herding got lost.
They couldn’t find them anywhere, and were afraid to go home because they were worried they would be caned. Sometimes it is left to children as young as the one in the photo below to herd cattle on their own in the bush.
Lion Guardians Olubi and Mokoi tracked them through some dense bush, and eventually found them safely the next day. Their parents were very grateful to the Guardians, and of course extremely happy that their children had been found.
The parents slaughtered a sheep, as required by Maasai tradition: if someone spends a night out in the bush, a sheep must be slaughtered to cleanse them. We are all so glad that Olubi and Mokoi were able to find the children and bring them home safely.
Terrible!
I am a father and i pray for this childrens!
Antony, what an amazing story. Thank God these 3 little ones were found unharmed. The Lion Guardians are truly an asset to their community. Great work, Olubi and Mokoi!
That is terrible. I bet they were terrified out there all night. I’m so glad you were able to locate them safe and sound. Good work, Lion Guardians! Lisa
not only the children are safe and lucky for spending a night out; the predators too. just think of the fate of any predator like a lioness or a leopard if that animal took the child for a meal. or that animal took some of the kids’ goats?
i cannot imagine kid this young scaring off a leopard or a lioness away from his livestock.
That child in the picture looks in a state of malnutrition. Just wondering if it is a serious problem with the Masai community?
Virginia, you are correct. There are two forms of malnutrition, severe wasting (marasmus) as seen in pictures from refugee camps in Darfur. People in the final stages of AIDS and cancer, are another example of this. The second type, is nutritional oedema (kwashiorkor) as seen with this child in the picture. You know, when I got to work at the hospital last night and showed everyone this post, they didn’t get upset. They said it was their culture to let such young children herd animals. Well, I was upset and still am, they are just sweet little babies, to me, who need all the mothering they can get at this age.BTW, the WHO estimates 20 million children are suffering from severe acute malnutrion. 145 million children are classified as being underweight.
Congratulations for finding the children, my son is 15 and I don’t let him get on a matatu let alone herd goats in lion country! Anthony, what can be done to prevent children from being exposed to such serious dangers?
i think its so poor for these children. bless you