The Special Vulnerability of Women

Women are often the most vulnerable to attack by aggressive herbivores like Cape buffalo, elephants, and hippos. Hippos pose a risk in and around bodies of water where women go to wash clothes or collect water for drinking, cooking, or washing. The scarcity of safe water sources (such as bore hole wells) contributes to many of the risks that the Masai face.

This woman said that she had been chased by a Cape buffalo just two days before we spoke to her.

Almost all of the stories we heard involved women who startled Cape buffalo or elephants when they were gathering firewood or collecting water.

Because they must travel long distances to find water and then carry water back to their compounds in jugs or pails, women are vulnerable to attack for long periods, and are particularly vulnerable when carrying heavy loads.