Lion Jungle of Africa

n the year 2000, I embarked on a five-month safari to Kenya that forever transformed my understanding of humanity and delved into the profound depths of the human psyche. It was during one mesmerizing afternoon near Mount Aligalo that I stumbled upon lion prints not far from my tent. To my amazement, my guides were astonished but calmly remarked, "He is not bad, he is our lion." It was on those very plains, where humanity itself originated, that Carl Jung wrote of animals as the sacred "priests of God."

Regrettably, the relentless competition for land and the destructive practice of trophy hunting have decimated lion populations. Throughout antiquity, countless lions from Africa were captured and used for processions, celebrations, and even gladiatorial exhibitions where they met untimely ends. In the early 1990s, a single spectacle resulted in the killing of 10 elephants, 200 leopards, and 400 lions. When I was 15 years old and first heard the resounding roar of a lion in Wajir, Kenya, their population may have exceeded 100,000. Today, however, it is a grim reality that there may be no more than 10,000 lions left across the vast expanses of Africa.

Over the years, my son Mohamed, my wife Nimo, and I have been captivated by the mighty roar of lions, the loudest sentient voice that reverberates across the African landscape. The presence of these majestic creatures evokes a profound sense of wonder and stirs primordial shudders within our souls. Lions leave an indelible impression, often referred to as "the ghosts in the grass." On one unforgettable morning, as I embarked on a trek of approximately 50 kilometers, my heart skipped a beat when I unexpectedly encountered three lionesses. In that moment, my guide encouraged me not to panic, but rather to embrace the awe-inspiring experience.

We chose to follow the three lions, who were seemingly poised to cross the river. As the dark obsidian silence of sunset draped the land, we patiently waited for over an hour, eager to witness their next move. Concealed behind a curtain of bushes, the lions remained hidden, prepared for a swift getaway. Unfortunately, our guide hesitated too long, and much to my consternation, the lions vanished into the wilderness before we could witness what would have undoubtedly been a miraculous moment. Nevertheless, our experienced guides adeptly utilized their tracking skills, successfully following the lions' footprints, enabling us to trace their path.

Within the boundless African bush, there are moments that transcend words, leaving an indescribable impact upon our souls. One such moment occurred in 2010 when we were blessed with the opportunity to witness a white lion. Legends and stories had long alluded to the mystique surrounding the white lions of southern Africa, revered as perhaps the most sacred and awe-inspiring animals on the entire continent. To behold a wild white lion feasting upon an antelope was a genuine miracle—an experience that imprinted itself upon our consciousness. The guides accompanying us firmly believed that if the white lions were to vanish, the delicate ecological balance would crumble, leading to disastrous consequences. The lion's rightful place within the intricate tapestry of African ecosystems is now under siege, and how humanity responds to this crisis will not only bear witness to the future of an entire continent but also define the legacy of our species on this precious Earth.

This pivotal moment urges us to explore the sanctity of wildlife and the breathtaking beauty of our environment. The lions' inherent aggression and their prowess as nocturnal hunters fascinated me beyond measure. This extraordinary experience propelled me to admire and respect the wonders of the natural world, ultimately inspiring me to establish a wildlife