For people who raise livestock near Nairobi National Park, lions are a major-scale pest. Two years ago, Richard Turere, who was responsible for herding his family’s flock, noticed that lions never struck ranches where people were walking around with flashlights. So the self-taught maker, who is now 13, rigged up a system of flashing LED torches around his family’s stockade, drawing electricity from the solar panel and battery circuit that powered their TV.

Since installing the system, they have suffered zero lion attacks, unlike 5 of their neighbors. Richard was recently awarded a scholarship to the Brookhouse School in Nairobi, where he plans to study engineering.

From AfriGadget

BY Paul Spinrad

I'm the executive editor of MAKE magazine, and I take great pleasure in helping makers show-and-tell their clever creations. A broad-spectrum enthusiast and conspiracy theory advocate, I'm also the father of two adorable children.

10 Responses to Young Kenyan Maker Develops Lion-B-Gone

  1. MSilvia on said:

    Way to go Richard!

  2. Eugene on said:

    Reminds me of the Simpsons episode where Lisa sells Homer a rock that keeps away lions or tigers… something like that.

    Great job!

  3. irright on said:

    I’d like to shake that kid’s hand.

  4. I like it, I like it! So glad he’s being rewarded for his creativity. Ah, I’m smiling right now.

  5. A. Barragree on said:

    Fantastic! I’d love to share this with my students who are studying entrepreneurship and inventing. Can I get the photo to post on my website?

  6. Pingback: A Lion in the Garden…….. | Pompuss Says

  7. That’s like the solution of the Cheetah Conservation Fund, big Anatolian Shepherds as guarding dogs for the flock….and it works!!!! Killing the lions is NEVER the right solution…! http://www.cheetah.org

  8. I’d like to give him some decent tennis shoes..!

  9. Pingback: One Bright Idea | THINKIBILITY

  10. Pingback: Ideas worth spreading | Redimere Films

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