Richard Turere, 13, is from Kitengela, on the edge of the Nairobi National Park, in Kenya. He started herding his family's cattle when he was just nine.
"Lion Lights" —
Richard Turere, 13, is from Kitengela, on the edge of the Nairobi National Park, in Kenya. He started herding his family's cattle when he was just nine.
Dr. Paula Kahumbu
At the age of 11, frustrated by lions frequently killing his family's livestock, Turere devised a low-cost lighting system to keep the lions away from his family's stockade.
"Lion Lights" —
At the age of 11, frustrated by lions frequently killing his family's livestock, Turere devised a low-cost lighting system to keep the lions away from his family's stockade.
Dr. Paula Kahumbu
He rigged up LED bulbs on poles around the enclosure, after observing that lions were afraid to approach the farm when someone was walking around carrying a flashlight.
"Lion Lights" —
He rigged up LED bulbs on poles around the enclosure, after observing that lions were afraid to approach the farm when someone was walking around carrying a flashlight.
Dr. Paula Kahumbu
Dubbed "Lion Lights," the lights are connected to a box with switches and to an old car battery powered by a solar panel. They were also devised to flash in sequence, tricking the lions into believing that someone is moving around carrying a flashlight.
"Lion Lights" —
Dubbed "Lion Lights," the lights are connected to a box with switches and to an old car battery powered by a solar panel. They were also devised to flash in sequence, tricking the lions into believing that someone is moving around carrying a flashlight.
Dr. Paula Kahumbu
Turere has been invited to speak at the TED 2013 conference in California about his invention. Here, he is practicing his presentation ahead of his speech Tuesday.
"Lion Lights" —
Turere has been invited to speak at the TED 2013 conference in California about his invention. Here, he is practicing his presentation ahead of his speech Tuesday.
Dr Paula Kahumbu
Turere's innovative system became a big success. His family hasn't lost any livestock to lions since they installed the system, whilst many neighbors and other pastoralists across Kenya have now installed the "Lion Lights."
"Lion Lights" —
Turere's innovative system became a big success. His family hasn't lost any livestock to lions since they installed the system, whilst many neighbors and other pastoralists across Kenya have now installed the "Lion Lights."
Nathalie Walthers
Turere has now been given a scholarship at Brookhouse International School, one of Kenya's top educational institutions.
"Lion Lights" —
Turere has now been given a scholarship at Brookhouse International School, one of Kenya's top educational institutions.
Dr. Paula Kahumbu
"One thing that's unique about Richard is that if you give him a problem, he'll keep working at it until he can fix it," says leading Kenyan conservationist Paula Kahumbu. "He doesn't give up; he doesn't find things too difficult; he's not afraid of being unable to do something and I think this is why he is such a good innovator."
"Lion Lights" —
"One thing that's unique about Richard is that if you give him a problem, he'll keep working at it until he can fix it," says leading Kenyan conservationist Paula Kahumbu. "He doesn't give up; he doesn't find things too difficult; he's not afraid of being unable to do something and I think this is why he is such a good innovator."
Dr. Paula Kahumbu
Richard says he wants to work in aviation when he grows up. "Three years ago when I was in the savannah herding my father's cattle I used to see the planes flying over and landing at the airport and I was like, one day I'll be a pilot and an aircraft engineer," he says.
"Lion Lights" —
Richard says he wants to work in aviation when he grows up. "Three years ago when I was in the savannah herding my father's cattle I used to see the planes flying over and landing at the airport and I was like, one day I'll be a pilot and an aircraft engineer," he says.
Dr. Paula Kahumbu
Nairobi is the world's only capital city with a national park, where wildlife roams free against the urban backdrop of skyscrapers.
"Lion Lights" —
Nairobi is the world's only capital city with a national park, where wildlife roams free against the urban backdrop of skyscrapers.
Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images/file