Lion's Stand Guard Over Girl Until Help Arrives

In Ethiopia, over 70% of marriages are established by abducting the women.  It is common practice to kidnap young girls, and force them into marriage by beating and raping them. In June of 2005 a 12 year old girl was taken by men who wanted to force her into marriage.   The kidnappers held the girl for seven days, repeatedly beating her.  Three lions heard her cries and came to her aid.  The lions chased away the attackers and stood guard over her until the police and family arrived.  They then left the scene.

Stuart Williams, a wildlife expert with the rural development ministry believes that the young girl was saved because she was crying.  The lions might have associated her whimpering to that of a mewing sound made from a lion cub.   Whatever the case is they didn't eat her they saved her life!

Ethiopia's Lions are well known for their huge black flowing manes.  They are the country's national symbol, and their images are on the local currency.   

The Lions population is dramatically decreasing due to farmers taking over their bush land and hunters who kill them for their skins.  Only 1,000 Ethiopian lions remain in the wild