Kapande Narok
Area of work: Lenkiloriti, Mbirikani Group Ranch

Kapande has been on many lion hunts and was successful in killing a male lion. Now that Kapande works as a Lion Guardian his good relationship with other warriors has helped him to thwart many lion hunts. The community he works for has great respect for him because he often helps young herders in the grazing fields.
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Koikai Mutungei
Area of work: Olbili, Mbirikani Group Ranch

Koikai's favourite work is lion monitoring. He is always demanding telemetry equipment to go out tracking collared lions in the bush. He gets excited about every chance of advancing lion conservation and is totally committed to the Lion Guardians’ call of duty.
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Lenkina Ngida
Area of work: Ilchalai, Mbirikani Group Ranch

Lenkina is an extremely hard working Guardian, and gets along very well with his community. They value his advice on living with carnivores. Lenkina has participated in many lion hunts, but he was never the first person to spear a lion (which holds a particular status in Maasai culture).
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Masarie Ologela
Area of work: Emukutan, Mbirikani Group Ranch

Masarie is one of the senior warriors working for the Lion Guardians program. His name, Masarie, was given to him when he first killed a lion. He is known far and wide for his spearing skills, which enabled him to kill two lions before leaving this all behind to become a Guardian.
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Mokoi Lekanayia
Area of work: Olngosua, Mbirikani Group Ranch

Mokoi is the oldest of the Lion Guardians, coming from the junior elders class, the class above warriors. He was chosen for his position as a Lion Guardian because of his exceptional dedication and hard work - he volunteered for more than six months before he was given the job. Mokoi loves tracking and was recently praised by his community for finding a lost child in the bush.
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Olubi Lairumbe
Area of work: Kalesirua, Mbirikani Group Ranch

Olubi killed seven lions before becoming a Guardian. Among the lions he killed was a female that was pregnant with five cubs. He regretted killing this lioness so much that he volunteered to become a Lion Guardian instead of continuing to kill carnivores. He is very popular and well known among the murrans, especially renowned for his excellent singing.
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Mushaga Kaika
Area of work: Oltiasika, Mbirikani Group Ranch

Mushaga is one of our 2 new Lion Guardians on Mbirikani. He is a very enthusiastic young warrior, who has been on lion hunts but never speared a lion. He loves walking in the bush and has excellent tracking skills, though he has never been to school so cannot read or write. However he is working hard to practise these skills and he can’t wait to help his community and the wildlife in his area with his new role as a Lion Guardian.
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Mingati Makarot
Area of work: Olbili, Mbirikani Group Ranch

Mingati has been very effective in monitoring lions like Lormanie, Kasayo, Nemasi and several others that frequent his zone. He is good at tracking lions using his traditional skills and has a great knowledge of the area that acts as a refuge to many wildlife species. Mingati is a past lion killer but has completely converted to being one of its ardent protectors. His name Mingati, is a lion name given to him by his age mates because of his bravery. During the Lion Guardian Games, Mingati won the spear throwing competition in the accuracy category.

Kisimir Olamayiani
Area of work: Centre, Mbirikani Group Ranch

Kisimir is one of our latest additions to the Mbirikani Lion Guardians and he joins a team of hardworking morans who were the pioneers of the ever growing Lion Guardians team. He is a mature traditional Maasai moran who volunteered for the project for several months before being employed. During this time he provided crucial information that helped in the detection of poaching activities across Chyulu Hills. His Center zone stretches along the Chyulu range and borders Kuku Group Ranch which is frequented by lions from Tsavo West National Park.

Noah Nkarunga
Area of work: Ol Donyo Wuas, Mbirikani Group Ranch

Noah is very humorous and has a likeable character; you will never get bored in his company. And he knows his zone, which comprises large tracts of thick lava forests that act as a refuge for many wildlife species, like the back of his hand. Noah knows every lion hide out and their movement corridors and is very efficient in providing crucial information regarding their whereabouts. Though he has never been to school, he is now able to fill in his data forms well and is a great asset to the Lion Guardians team.

Kutata Mutengere
Area of work: Iltuleta, Eselenkei Group Ranch

Kutata is from a humble background, but is the most educated out of all the Eselenkei Lion Guardians. However he is also a very traditional moran, who is strong and confident. Kutata has a likeable character and a wealth of experience, as well as great respect for his seniors. Kutata is taking a leading role amongst the Eselenkei Guardians, helping those that are less educated than himself.
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Lopono Lelakati
Area of work: Enkii, Eselenkei Group Ranch

Lopono is a very friendly and likeable character, who makes everyone feel comfortable in his presence, whether he knows you or not. He comes from a poor background, and is extremely hard working and enthusiastic. He has renowned diplomatic skills and a great knowledge of the lion migratory corridor through the group ranch.
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Melita Sonto
Area of work: Iltuleta, Eselenkei Group Ranch

Melita is a very young moran who is extremely enthusiastic and eager to work. The commitment in which he undertakes community work is second to none. Though he has never been to school, Melita highly appreciates the efforts being made to train him to read and write. Having participated in successful lion hunts in the past, Melita is now eager and willing to change this traditional practice and to protect the predatory species he once went out to kill.
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Kamunu Saitoti
Area of work: Lenkisem, Eselenkei Group Ranch

Kamunu is the most experienced of the new Lion Guardians. He is extremely articulate and very smart, but has never been to school, so is now learning to read and write. Quiet and thoughtful, mature and confident, Kamunu is one of the most highly respected morans in Eselenkei Group Ranch. He has participated in many successful lion hunting sessions in the past, and has a good knowledge of lion tracking.
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Kuyan Nterreke
Area of work: Lenkisem, Eselenkei Group Ranch

Kuyan comes from a family of past lion killers and his employment as a Lion Guardian has proved very effective in stopping his relatives from killing lions. The family appreciates their inclusion in conservation through Kuyan and that is why none of them want to jeopardize that chance. He is a great tracker and has participated in several successful lion hunts, but is now a conservationist at heart. At the start of the year when lion–livestock conflict was at its height, Kuyan stopped over five lion hunts by himself and was effective in monitoring lions and mitigating conflicts at this crucial period in time.

Leparakuo Ole Shuaka
Area of work: Selenkay Conservancy, Eselenkei Group Ranch

When Leparakuo heard about the Lion Guardians project he immediately started going out looking for lion tracks and though he comes from a very humble background, he continued to volunteer for several months, without any concrete promise of a job. But this being his passion, no discouragement could deter him. He is now our Lion Guardian for Selenkay Conservancy and as part of his work he informs Porini eco-tourism guides of where the lions are residing, and they have never been disappointed.

Samanya Lerionka
Area of work: Oloilalei, Olgulului Group Ranch

Samanya lives and works in a low lying swampy area near Amboseli National Park, which is home to several wildlife species. He is a young and enormously friendly moran, who is particularly effective at community work. He can often be found helping protect his community’s livestock, and attenuating any conflicts between people and wildlife which may arise. He has a very likeable character and his great tracking skills and ability to walk many kilometers in search of lions without tiring are among his many attributes.

Meingati Ole Munke
Area of work: Risa, Olgulului Group Ranch

Meingati has fantastic tracking skills and impressive wildlife knowledge as well as a real commitment to hard work. Though quiet and a good listener, his intermittent beaming smiles illuminate those around him on any subject of discussion. Having participated in successful lion hunting parties in the past, Meingati is a valuable addition to the Lion Guardians team.  In fact, he has the luck of finding lions every time he goes out tracking!

Lentooma Parsitau
Area of work: Lower Risa, Olgulului Group Ranch

Lentooma is a young Maasai moran with a likeable character and great literacy skills despite the fact that he left school at an early age. He also has great leadership qualities – a valuable asset for any Lion Guardian, but especially for one like Lentooma, who lives and works in an area known for producing many skilful lion killers. Lentooma has the fortunate ability to talk down his age-mates and others when he detects a possible lion hunt within his zone.

Medidingi Mankokoyo
Area of work: Nchakita, Olgulului Group Ranch

Medidingi is a reputable spear thrower and strong Maasai moran. He has excellent traditional knowledge and bravery that is unparalleled in his zone. He has participated actively in several successful lion hunting parties in the past. Though he has never been to school, Medidingi is a respected tracker who easily combines his knowledge of wildlife with technology such as telemetry to track collared lions. His honesty and sincerity count amongst his several attributes that contribute to him being an effective Lion Guardian.

Timoine Olamayiani
Area of work: Olgulului, Olgulului Group Ranch

Timoine hails from a human-wildlife conflict prone zone and has been very instrumental in preventing depredation before it happens by alerting the community to the whereabouts of lions in his zone. He has been mitigating conflicts by helping find hundreds of lost livestock and returning them back to their owners safely thus reducing the number of livestock being killed and the level of anger towards lions. He is a priceless asset to the team.

Gisa Nkasumani
Area of work: Loolakir, Olgulului Group Ranch

Gisa is a gentleman and warrior who comes from a very poor background. He is the sole bread winner for his immediate family and his mother is very proud of him and thankful that we gave her son an opportunity not only to serve his community but to help his family. Gisa is very efficient, honest and hardworking. He has stopped several lion hunts in his zone, and is blessed with superb leadership qualities.

Sitonik Muli
Area of work: Loolakir, Olgulului Group Ranch

Sitonik is a typical traditional Maasai moran who has never been to school, and has been herding his father’s cows since he was young, but he impressed us with his wealth of experience and thorough knowledge of his zone. His traditional tracking skills are second to none and he is now able to fill in his data forms without any problems. He is truly a valuable addition to the Lion Guardians family.

Parkesian Ole Saitoti
Area of work: Meshenani, Olgulului Group Ranch

Parkesian symbolizes a typical traditional Maasai moran with all the physical attributes of a strong warrior. His fantastic tracking skills mean he is well-liked and respected within his age-group. His strong leadership qualities and influence amongst his age-mates make him a valuable asset to the Lion Guardians team. He particularly enjoys working with the new young warriors, to persuade them to protect wildlife rather than conflict with it.

Maen Leyian
Area of work: Ngararampuni, Olgulului Group Ranch

Maen is semi-literate and is skilled at tracking lions using modern technology like radio telemetry and GPS as well as his traditional skills. His zone is close to the border with Tanzania and he is a well respected moran in both countries. Maen has a very likeable character and is an easy person to get along with. He will clearly emerge as one of the leaders of the Lion Guardians owing to his great oratory skills.

Jackson Lemposo
Area of work: Imarba, Olgulului Group Ranch

A typical traditional Maasai moran, Jackson is a reputable tracker who knows all the lion corridors and hide-outs in his conflict prone area of work. His zone lies on the border with Tanzania and has experienced several lion killing incidents and poaching activities in the past. Being magnanimous and generous at heart, Jackson comes from a family blessed with leadership qualities - his elder brother is the chief of the senior morans.

Metito Ole Nkii
Area of work: Esiteti, Olgulului Group Ranch

Metito is reputed in his zone for his previous exploits against lions, but he is now a dedicated lion protector. Even though he has never been to school, his willingness and thirst to learn is clearly visible. He now knows how to read and write on his data forms and even beat his literate brother to the job in a very tight race for employment. He is familiar with the different prides of lions that frequent his zone and is monitoring them closely.

Ngida Tinayo
Area of work: Emerua-Oldule, Olgulului Group Ranch

Ngida has a very likeable character and being a past lion killer, his bravery is reported far and wide. He is a great leader and is always clear and honest. Nicknamed ‘Kitashu’ by his age-mates because of his bravery, we expect him to play a critical role in his conflict-prone zone which will act as the base for the new moran age-set manyatta. His influence will be useful during the forthcoming transition period when the new morans will start their journey into warriorhood.

Parkepu Katuma
Area of work:Mbaringoi, Olgulului Group Ranch

Parkepu is a young, honest and hardworking moran, who impressed us with his willingness and ability to learn. Though he is a man of few words he is a great tracker and closely monitors one of the biggest lion prides in Southern Olgulului. One of his strong traits is his respect not just for his immediate seniors but to any community member around his age. Being a similar age to the new morans we expect to use him to stop them from any lion killing, when the age-set transition occurs.