As Julius Lekenit (Governance and Partnerships Manager at GZT) was scrolling through wildlife images captured in Naimarei by our Grevy’s Zebra Warrior team leader, Harugurah, another local warrior from Harugurah’s community joined them to take a look. Looking quizzically at Harugurah, he asked “why are you taking pictures of empty landscapes, dams, hyenas, and to make the matter worse, lizards!? Warriors do not idle in this way….” he said as he solemnly shook his head. Harugurah laughed out loud, and using his oratorical skills to address his peer engaged him with respect “Murataa aai, I do this because I love doing it. I take photos of this landscape because I love and admire it. The patrols that I have taken over the years have given me a strong bond with my land including everything that walks on it. My curiosity now has no limits and I look for and see new things every time I patrol; the lizards I see sometimes look different from ones I saw another day!”
Julius, interjected “Really?” he asked Harugurah, also surprised by how much Harugurah knows about the land now. “Yes!” replied Harugurah, “I come home with pictures of jackals, Grevy’s zebra, elephants, aardwolf, hyenas and even different types of snakes. I am surprised that sometimes my children and even other warriors do not know this wildlife.”
“Murataa aai” said the warrior that had joined Harugurah and Julius, “I can see that you love wildlife and the work that you do. But how is what you are doing beneficial to the people that you are showing these pictures to?”
“First of all, Murata aai, my patrols have enabled me to know where there is pasture, water, wildlife and even warn the community when there are predators or suspicious individuals in the area.”
“Do you agree to what he is saying?” Julius asked the warrior, himself also amazed at the passion with which Harugurah was speaking. “Yes, I think he is right in terms of the information he brings to the community” replied the warrior. Jovial and sensing victory, Harugurah continued “Murataa, our traditional ceremonies rely on wildlife; marriage cannot take place without elephant dung to initiate your first traditional house. The Grevy’s zebra too lead us to pasture and water. Through their tracks. Through them, we can also tell if an area is safe from poachers or predators. “
The warrior, smiling and laughing, said “You know most things Harugurah. It is no wonder you are called ‘professor’ among our people.” The warrior turned to Julius and said “These guys do a great job and I now understand the importance. Sometimes we just assume these things because our culture recognizes them. The young generation don’t know and appreciate this knowledge.”
Harugurah smiled as he gave the warrior two GZT Covid-19 cloth face masks, reminding him that the stripes represent the Grevy’s zebra and he should protect and treat them like his own cattle.
