Naimina Enkiyio, or the Forest of the Lost Child, in Kenya, is home to a wealth of wildlife, from elephants, lions and leopards to buffalo, hyenas and baboons (pictured). According to <a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fdevelopers.google.com%2Fearth-engine%2Fdatasets%2Fcatalog%2FUMD_hansen_global_forest_change_2023_v1_11" target="_blank" target="_blank">global forest change data</a>, the area has only lost 2% of forest cover since 2000, while others in the country have lost 20 to 60% in the same timeframe -- making it one of the few intact forests in the east African nation.
Naimina Enkiyio, or the Forest of the Lost Child, in Kenya, is home to a wealth of wildlife, from elephants, lions and leopards to buffalo, hyenas and baboons (pictured). According to global forest change data, the area has only lost 2% of forest cover since 2000, while others in the country have lost 20 to 60% in the same timeframe -- making it one of the few intact forests in the east African nation.
Forest Guardians Ltd.
While the forest is largely undocumented by science, a recent effort to survey its flora and fauna identified <a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fijarbs.com%2Fpdfcopy%2F2019%2Fmar2019%2Fijarbs6.pdf" target="_blank" target="_blank">277 plant species</a>, recording their botanical names and their names in the local Maasai language. Pictured here is the African strangler fig.
While the forest is largely undocumented by science, a recent effort to survey its flora and fauna identified 277 plant species, recording their botanical names and their names in the local Maasai language. Pictured here is the African strangler fig.
Nell Lewis/CNN
The forest is home to a plethora of birds, including the African black-headed oriole (pictured). The remote location, far from roads and civilization, mean that there is little sound pollution and natures' sounds echo around the place.
The forest is home to a plethora of birds, including the African black-headed oriole (pictured). The remote location, far from roads and civilization, mean that there is little sound pollution and natures' sounds echo around the place.
Forest Guardians Ltd.
Herds of elephants roam the forest. Avoiding any signs of humans, they are hard to spot and are photographed here from a helicopter.
Herds of elephants roam the forest. Avoiding any signs of humans, they are hard to spot and are photographed here from a helicopter.
Mara Elephant Project
Plenty of Kirk's dik-dik live in the forest, hiding away from the larger predators.
Plenty of Kirk's dik-dik live in the forest, hiding away from the larger predators.
Forest Guardians Ltd.
The thick forest, full of African cedar (pictured), opens up occasionally into wide clearings, where the Maasai people would traditionally come to graze their cattle during dry spells.
The thick forest, full of African cedar (pictured), opens up occasionally into wide clearings, where the Maasai people would traditionally come to graze their cattle during dry spells.
Forest Guardians Ltd.
Herds of Burchell's zebra (pictured) can also be spotted grazing in the clearings.
Herds of Burchell's zebra (pictured) can also be spotted grazing in the clearings.
Forest Guardians Ltd.
The forest is sacred to the Maasai people, and for centuries they have seen it as their duty to protect the forest and the animals within it -- such as yellow white-eye birds (pictured).
The forest is sacred to the Maasai people, and for centuries they have seen it as their duty to protect the forest and the animals within it -- such as yellow white-eye birds (pictured).
Forest Guardians Ltd.
However, as the Maasai's culture and lifestyles change due to outside influences and the privatization of land, conservationists fear that this may change and the forest will be under threat as a result.
However, as the Maasai's culture and lifestyles change due to outside influences and the privatization of land, conservationists fear that this may change and the forest will be under threat as a result.
Forest Guardians Ltd.