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Kidnapped Ethiopian Girl Rescued by Caring, Protective Lions

The Grist ^ | 3 Apr 2013 | Sarah Miller

Posted on by nickcarraway

A 12-year-old girl kidnapped by a group of seven men in the Ethiopian city of Bita Genet was found several days after her abduction, safe under the watchful eyes of three lions. Not only were the lions guarding her, they allegedly chased off her captors.

The girl was reportedly abducted by the seven men with the idea that she would be forced into marrying one of the them. According to the United Nations, about 70 percent of the marriages taking place in Ethiopia are the result of similar kidnappings. And nearly 100 percent of those abduction-marriages are not thwarted by kindly wildlife.

While it is certainly within reason to consider this a miracle, a wildlife official did point out that the lions  who guarded the girl for about a half day  may have heard her crying and mistaken her for a cub. Interesting theory, but dont lions know the difference between a Person and a Furry Thing that Looks Just Like Them? Although who wants to complain? Its such a great story.

Its so great, in fact, that Twitter is going nuts about it today even though this event took place and was reported on in 2005. Possibly because theres been so much rape in the news lately, and its nice to hear a story with a happy ending. Or maybe we just like stories where animals behave in the noble, humane way we wish people would.



TOPICS:

Local News

Pets/Animals

Weird Stuff

KEYWORDS:

2005

africa

aslan

children

culture

ethiopia

lions

napl

rescue

wildlife





To: Slings and Arrows

Remember to tell your children to always go up to lions and pet them, if they see them.



To: nickcarraway

Does that work for baby bears too? 8-)



To: nickcarraway

I remember this story, & it’s true that animals have a strong sympathetic response. I’ve seen it in our kitties. I currently have a little rescue kitty that has not always been really demonstrative, but if I cough hard or make some other kind of unusual sound, she’ll come over to try to comfort me.



To: nickcarraway

Like a fool, I always kept the kids away from the lions, instilling fear and prejudice into those innocent young minds. I was a part of the problem, not the solution.



by 5 posted onby ansel12 (The lefts most effective quote-I'm libertarian on social issues, but conservative on economics.)

To: nickcarraway

Was it a lion or tiger that was able to pull a kid into a cage after the child’s head popped off when it wouldn’t go through the bars. Nice kitty my ass.



by 6 posted onby meatloaf (Support Senate S 1863 & House Bill 1380 to eliminate oil slavery.)

To: nickcarraway

Aslan is really on the move!



by 7 posted onby SubMareener (Save us from Quarterly Freepathons! Become a MONTHLY DONOR!)

To: nickcarraway

According to the United Nations, about 70 percent of the marriages taking place in Ethiopia are the result of similar kidnappings. Tell me again how all cultures are equal.



To: nickcarraway

That sure is a lion of a tale....get it.. heh heh.. lion LOL I'll leave out the back way...



To: ansel12

Don’t be silly. Of course, lions are not to be trifled with. But if you’ve ever owned a Siamese cat - as I did - they can be spookily intuitive about human feelings. In any case, the king of the jungle scared off the human predators. Good story.



To: nickcarraway

BTTT



by 11 posted onby onyx (FREE REPUBLIC IS HERE TO STAY! DONATE MONTHLY! IF YOU WANT ON SARAH PALIN''S PING LIST, LET ME KNOW)

To: nickcarraway

I have 3 big racoons that sit on the porch guarding the house all night long.



by 12 posted onby bunkerhill7 ("The Second Amendment has no limits on firepower"-NY State Senator Kathleen A. Marchione.)

To: nickcarraway

“Remember to tell your children to always go up to lions and pet them, if they see them.” Don’t laugh. It may be safer than walking up to a cop.



To: nickcarraway

This is nearly Biblical. I wonder what God has in mind for this young girl to have lions protect her from the evil Muslims?



To: miss marmelstein

What was I being silly about, children should play with wild lions, or should not play with wild lions, your post was confusing.



by 15 posted onby ansel12 (The lefts most effective quote-I'm libertarian on social issues, but conservative on economics.)

To: nickcarraway

Daniel smiles at this story. The Lord has plans for this child.

Daniel smiles at this story. The Lord has plans for this child.

To: nickcarraway

Dang — that story is almost Biblical!



by 17 posted onby freedumb2003 (LBJ declared war on poverty and lost. Barack Obama declared war on prosperity and won. /csmusaret)

To: nickcarraway

Those were probably guardian angels manifesting as wild creatures.



by 18 posted onby 2ndDivisionVet (I'll raise $2million for Sarah Palin's presidential run. What'll you do?)

To: miss marmelstein

But if youve ever owned a Siamese cat... Owned many. Well, actually, they owned me. They kept me safe. Best Security System ever. On the matter of intuition, when I would often get a mental hankerin’ for a can of King Oskar Sardines (packed in oil), the thought would barely caress my mind when I would hear 3 Siamese cats jump off the bed upstairs and come racing down the stairs to assist me in eating them. I had to go into the basement to eat them. Their mind-reading abilities were uncanny...



To: nickcarraway

Anyone that believes that.... could believe in FREE Healthcare.. Who is that gullible?..



by 20 posted onby hosepipe (This propaganda has been edited to include some fully orbed hyperbole..)

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