Richard Turere

Richard Turere

Kenyan boy, inventor
Country: Kenya

Content:
  1. Richard Turere - A Kenyan Boy Genius
  2. Protecting the Cows from Lions
  3. Recognition and Future Aspirations

Richard Turere - A Kenyan Boy Genius

Richard Turere, a 13-year-old Kenyan boy, lives on a family ranch near Nairobi National Park. Growing up, Richard learned to help his parents take care of their cows. In order to protect their livestock from lions in the park, Richard came up with a clever invention - a network of neon lights that flash alternately to keep the predators at bay. Despite not attending school for a long time due to his work on the ranch, Richard's family enjoys a comfortable lifestyle by local standards.

Richard Turere

Protecting the Cows from Lions

Living on the boundary of Nairobi National Park, the Turere family often had to deal with lions hunting their cows. Protecting the vulnerable animals seemed impossible until Richard, at the age of 9, took full responsibility for the herd and decided to protect them like an adult. His invention, which uses ordinary neon lights, not only keeps the cows safe but also avoids harming the lions in the national park. Richard's genius invention, called the "Lion Lights" system, operates on solar power, with the lights strategically placed on poles around the ranch.

Recognition and Future Aspirations

Richard's ingenious invention gained international recognition. He was invited to California to speak at the prestigious TED Conference in 2013. During his talk, Richard shared his story, his family's experiences, and the success of his invention. The young Kenyan genius explained that he had noticed lions were afraid of moving light, often running away in fear when they saw people with flashlights. Static sources of light did not have the same effect. Richard tried using scarecrows as a deterrent, but the smart predators quickly realized they were fake. However, after installing his "Lion Lights" system, not a single cow was killed on the ranch, and no lions were harmed, much to the satisfaction of the Nairobi National Park administration.

Today, Richard is pursuing his education on a scholarship at one of Nairobi's most prestigious schools, Brookhouse International School. While he never felt burdened by his work on the family ranch, Richard's dreams have always reached for the sky. He revealed his aspirations on the TED stage, expressing his desire to become a pilot or an aviation engineer.

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