He is super compassionate!
Dear friends,
In a world where our environment is changing for the worse, it does not rain like it used to in some parts of the world, and water is difficult to come by even in the wilderness. Most of us take our supply of water for granted, but imagine what wild animals must go through just to find water for survival’s sake.
Patrick Kilonzo Mwalua compassionately supplies water to the thirsty and desperate animals of Kenya’s Tsavo West National Park. What’s more, he is an advocate for Kenyan wildlife in order to preserve the legacy of the local people and their environment.
It really touches me deeply when people go out of their way to help others, especially animals. So, I wanted to share the following article with all my readers. Patrick’s passion and endurance to bring life-sustaining water to Kenya’s wildlife is inspiring to say the least.
Please read through the article and learn just how much one man’s mission in life benefits so many, preserving our environment and the beautiful animals that live within it.
Tsem Rinpoche
P.S Please visit this website to donate to his cause: https://www.gofundme.com/tsavoelephantguardian
Man Drives Hours Every Day In Drought To Bring Water To Wild Animals
CHRISTIAN COTRONEO | FEB 17, 2017
In a land as parched as Kenya’s Tsavo West National Park, no visitor arrives with more fanfare than the water man.
That would be Patrick Kilonzo Mwalua. And when he rumbles down the dusty road bearing some 3,000 gallons of fresh water, the elephants, buffalo, antelope and zebras come running.
They’ve come to know the water man by the rumble of his engine. And his lifesaving cargo.
“There is completely no water, so the animals are depending on humans,” Mwalua tells The Dodo. “If we don’t help them, they will die.”
Mwalua fills the bone-dry watering holes in the region, driving for hours on end every day to haul water to where it’s most desperately needed.
The holes themselves, lined with concrete, often need cleaning — Mwalua blames it on buffalo droppings — and sometimes, he will just hose down an area of cracked earth for the grateful animals.
“The buffalo roll in the mud so they suffocate the fleas and ticks,” he says.
Many animals don’t even wait that long, fearlessly crowding the truck as Mwalua cranks the tap.
“Last night, I found 500 buffalo waiting at the water hole,” he says. “When I arrived they could smell the water. The buffalo were so keen and coming close to us.”
“They started drinking water while I was standing there. They get so excited.”
Mwalua, who is a pea farmer in his local village, came up with the idea after seeing firsthand the grim toll climate change has taken in his native land. In the last year especially, he says, the area has seen precious little precipitation, leaving animals to die of thirst in these cracked lands.
“We aren’t really receiving rain the way we used to,” he says. “From last year, from June, there was no rain completely. So I started giving animals water because I thought, ‘If I don’t do that, they will die.”
Between road trips, Mwalua runs a conservation project called Tsavo Volunteers. The 41-year-old also visits local schools to talk to children about the wildlife that is their legacy.
“I was born around here and grew up with wildlife and got a lot of passion about wildlife,” he says. “I decided to bring awareness to this so when they grow up they can protect their wildlife.”
Last year, Mwalua started renting a truck and driving water to several locations in Tsavo West. His mission would extend to several trucks, keeping him on the road for hours every day as he drives dozens of hard miles between stops.
“The truck is heavy and doesn’t go very fast,” he says. “We have to be very patient and go deliver water.”
But his lifeline has also extended from that hose in Tsavo West all the way to the United States — where three women, who have never met him or each other, help him keep the taps flowing.
“I visited Kenya December of 2015, though I didn’t know Patrick at the time or meet him,” Angie Brown, who lives in Connecticut, tells The Dodo. But the country, and especially the plight of its animals, haunted her.
When she heard about the most recent drought, Brown connected on Facebook with Cher Callaway and Tami Calliope. The trio — Callaway lives in Utah and Calliope in Vermont — decided to help.
Callaway, who has worked with Mwalua on several projects — including fundraisers for beehives and night patrols to gently scare elephants away from villages — says Kenya’s water delivery man is keeping animals alive during the current drought.
“His commitment to the wildlife and his heritage is unmeasurable,” she tells The Dodo. “Even risking his own life in the middle of the night to deliver water to a dry water hole.”
Callaway set up a GoFundMe page that has so far collected more than $18,000 from people around the world — all of it going toward Mwalua’s water delivery service.
“We have all spent a lot of time getting the word out about the animals Patrick is helping and the GoFundMe has been a real success,” Brown says. “He needs so much more money though.”
In fact, they’re hoping to soon buy him his own truck.
But one way or another, Mwalua will keep rumbling down those dusty roads. Many miles to go. And many more thirsty mouths.
Source: https://www.thedodo.com/water-man-kenya-animals-2263728686.html
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Unsung Hero of a Kenyan famer Patrick Mwalua who goes all the way out to save wild animals after witnessing a thirsty buffalo sniffing at an empty water hole during the drought. Since then he decided that he use his evenings to bring water to the animals to prevent them from going into the villages in search of water. The Kenyan hero have been supplying drinking water to animals. Patrick Kilonzo Mwalua known to many as the Waterman of Tsavo. He gained admiration over his passion to save the ecosystem by supplying clean drinking water at the Tsavo West National Park when the country was reeling from a prolonged dry spell. He found a cause that is more meaningful , giving new meaning to nature conservation. Inspiring indeed what he did is truly amazing travelling miles just to bring water to wild animals. Wish there were more like people Mwalua doing a good job saving animals.
Thank you Rinpoche for this wonderful sharing.
Animals show love for humans! Cow, lions, apes, dogs, bears, parrots and more can all be very affectionate and show surprising emotions when it comes to expressing their love for people. An emotional animals hugging humans video.
https://video.tsemtulku.com/videouploads/comment-1546455946.mp4
You guys are going to have a cute attack with these two super adorable videos of Tsem Rinpoche’s doggies Oser and Dharma.-
https://youtu.be/JX1UdH7IjQ8
And
https://youtu.be/YGD7CtNmnuI
The videos JUST came out!
Enjoy!
H.E. the 25th Tsem Rinpoche loves animals and is passionate against their harm, torture, and abuse.
The few minutes a day we spend on social media creating awareness for animals who cannot speak is purely spiritual and humanistic practice because we are trying to alleviate pain from another sentient beings and that makes us more spiritual, and that makes us more spiritual and more humane.
Looking at his deeds in Africa, I could remember what has been said about the Wheel of Life. There is 6 realms within the Wheel of life there is a bodhisattva responsible for each particular realm to help and save beings for that relam and to share the dharma. Could he be an avatar of such a bodhisattva?
Mwalua is indeed a compassionate person. Knowing that the animals will die without water, he went the extra mile to bring water for these animals. Travelling miles and miles bringing 3,000 gallons of water for the wildlife is not an easy task yet he did it whole-heartedly. I hope his act of kindness will garner him more support in terms of funds and manpower for this noble cause.
This is extremely amazing to come across. Such compassionate man,Thank you Rinpoche for sharing and I hope Mwulua be well and lots of animals be benefited. _()_
Patrick Kilonzo Mwalua, fills the bone-dry watering holes in the region of Kenyas’ Tsavo West National Park in order to preserve the animals’ wildlifes, to say the least! In a land as parched as Kenya’s Tsavo West National Park, no visitor arrives with more fanfare than Patrick Kilonzo Mwalua, the Water Man. They have come to know the Water Man by the runble of his engine, bearing his life-saving cargo, with the elephants, buffalo, zebras and antelope come running. “There is completely no water, so the animals depended on the humans, if we don’t help them, they will die,” Mwaluva said. Mwaluva drove for hours on end daily, to haul water to where it’s most needed desparately, filling the bone-dried holes in the region. From experiences, Mwalua, a pea farmer in his local village, came up with this idea after witnessing firsthand, the grim-toll-climate change taken place in his native land – leaving animals to suffer and die of thirst in these cracked lands. The 41-year-old, being born here, and grew up with Wildlife, got a lot of passion about wildlife, and decided to bring awareness to this, so when the young ones grow up they can protect their wildlife,” Mwalua said. Mwalua has got three very kind women, who, initially have never met him, or each other, to help him keep the taps flowing, but his lifeline extended from that hose in Tsavo West all way upto the United States, through setting up a “GOFUNDME” page, which dharmically has been a real success, “though he still needs more money hoping to buy his own truck”. But, whatsoever, one way or another, super compassionate Mwaluva will continue keep rumbling down those dusty roads, with many more miles to go and thirsty throats to satisfy anyhow! “Compassion together with wisdom can benefit many beings,” as Rinpoche has once said. Thank you heartily for the kind sharing and teaching, Rinpoche.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this wonderful story of kind hearted people Patrick. It is indeed very rare these days to have such people who would go so out of the way to help others, especially to give help to animals who would not know how to say “Thank you”.
The weather these days are really getting more and more unpredictable. At times it does not rain for weeks or months; and then it can rain very heavily for the next few months. It is not as predictable as before. I hope there is a more permanent solution for all the animals across the Africa.
Such kind act do exist. I hope more people to be like him and animals should be treated kindly since the climate change is cause by humans.
It is really touching to see such compassion in action.
I have only heard about people coming in water tankers to serve humans not animals.
Most of the time I hear about people killing,abusing, and torturing animals but this person labors everyday in the hot sun to deliver water to animals and he isn’t even paid, as far as I know there is hardly anyone that will treat animals kindly and that means that there are even less people like Mwalua who labor in the scorching heat for the animals living in the barren wasteland of Kenya.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this truly inspirational and touching post about this African superhero and may more people learn to be compassionate and selfless people like him.
Such a kind compassionate human being… and shouldn’t all humans be just so? We should be the protectors of the weak, those who are helpless, voiceless, mother nature, the environment, the water, the earth and not just keep using and abusing it. The worst is seeing someone inflict pain and killing animals.
I’m so glad to Mr. Brown making the great effort to drive all the way for hours to give water to the wild animals. He is truly a compassionate being and even the animals sense he is compassionate. The would recognise his truck coming and would even chase after it, this goes to show that animals are intelligent, they an think and feel and the certainly know if you are kind or not. They sense it. I’ve always wondered what I will do if I had not join the dharma and do dharma work, I would most likely end up working for some animal welfare society, I wouldn’t mind it at all, especially elephants and pandas! They are my favourite! Such blog post gives us hope, that there is still compassion out there. Thank you Rinpoche!
Thanks Rinpoche and the blog team for the inspiring article!
Salute to Mr. Mwalua for such a noble act towards the wild animals who might not cross the mind of most people when the climate changes. I wonder how much it cost daily for Mr. Mwalua to deliver the life saving water to the animals, I am sure it’s not cheap yet he did it passionately to help.
Like Mr. Mwalua said, we should care the wild life as we are living in the same earth, keeping them alive and living well is part of the effort to keep the environment well as a whole.
Thank you! May this inspire more people to contribute selflessly to our respective living environment.
I often think the measure of a man is not what career he does, but how he treats others and animals with compassion. Animals are very intuitive when it comes to people. They often know who is a kind person long before us humans realize it. I rejoice for what this man has done and contiunes to do. We need more like him here on the planet.
This article really touched my heart and also inspired me to give animals unconditional love and help. We must teach younger generation about awareness of save energy especially on water supply.
Let’s contribute our effort to any animals shelter to bring happiness to animals.
I’m so fortunate because Rinpoche is my mentor on animals caring and Rinpoche also want us to guide animals close to Dharma which will benefits them in future rebirth.
Thanks Rinpoche
Jason
What an inspiring and touching article to read! We know that Kenya and most Africa countries are facing draught issue throughout the year. Millions of people and animals do not have enough water supplies. We have been in a very fortunate country where drought does not happen and we have clean tap water everyday. Sometimes we might forget this and take it for granted. What’s inspiring from Mwalua is not only of his compassion to animals, but his spirit of going all out to do what he can to benefit the animals. If we can’t go deliver water physically to Africa like him, at least we can donate to the fund to keep this project going. Mwalua’s compassionate act should be shared in schools too as a great learning and an example to inspire our children.
Mwalua is a real Hero. In normal circumstances, people will take advantage of the situation to hunt the animals for their skins, horns, ivory etc. With a big kind heart, he raised money to rent a water truck sending water to the animals. he is truly a Bodhisattva who care for “all living beings”. He did not kept the money for himself and family’s enjoyment. He did not talk none stop promoting himself with very little action. He actually drove for hours, risking his life sending water to the animals, this is unheard of. His action is comparable to the Bodhisattva Guan Yin who has great compassion for all sentient beings.
His deeds really remind me not to just do nothing. There is always something we can do to help if we want to and if it is a good thing, we will soon find others joining.
Mwalua is truly a very compassionate person. Not many would want to trouble themselves or even risk their live to bring water to these animals. He has such a big heart towards living beings and the importance of life.
Angie Brown, Cher Callaway and Tami Calliope are also very generous and kind person. They help him to raise fund so he can continue with his action to save the animals.
I hope Mwalua will receive continuous help from all kind donors so animals don’t have to suffer.
Heartwarming message from Mwalua, who is so compassionate and empathetic:
“There is completely no water, so the animals are depending on humans,” Mwalua tells The Dodo. “If we don’t help them, they will die.”
Mwalua fully aware that the wildlife will definitely die without the water. Furthermore, only humans can help the animals. He is able to let go of his stress and laziness just to deliver the water patiently and passionately. Many wildlife have been saved due to his kind actions. Furthermore, he visited local schools and hope to bring awareness to the children so that when they grow up they can protect the wildlife as one of their legacies.
Thank you Rinpoche for this sharing. This is a good example of loving kindness and compassion to inspire us to greater loving kindness and compassion.
From this post, I learn that Mwalua (and those who join him to help the animals), see only where and who needs his help, and delivers the help how he could. He sees what the needs are in another being (be human or animal ) and what he can. Not what he cannot, not able to, or he lacks of to give the help. He puts his compassion, love and feel for the animals, the land and his people in action.
What he gives is simple, water. But not simple because it is actually seeing the needs of another and fulfill it with all he could and can effort to, by renting a truck, fill it with water and drive hundred thousand miles to deliver to the animals need the water.
Thank you Rinpoche for the sharing.
Touching story of such a compassionate man..Patrick Kilonzo Mwalua.
He took the trouble to go far just to bring water and help those animals who needed water to survive. Its so compassionate of him been able to travel all alone in a harsh condition.during the current drought season.He was committed to the wildlife and he even risk own life in the middle of the night to deliver water. Later part he was joined by three ladies to crusades for the cause.He visits local schools to talk to children about the awareness of wildlife. Together they founded several projects — including fundraisers for beehives , night patrols and so forth.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this inspiring article.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this article. Patrick indeed has a Bodhisattva heart. His love to the wild life is indeed immeasurable and out of compassionate. No one in the world would think of serving water to the wild life. In fact, some trying to hunt them. On the other hand, Patrick, was not defeated by the distant he has to travel, but deliver water to the wild life everyday. He will receive tremendous merit by helping the wild life. I hope he will receive more funding for his project and able to buy his own truck to continue doing this. With folded hands _/\_
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this article about compassionate Patrick. He is doing something which no one would ever think of. Although it is not an easy job but he still does it patiently for the sake of saving the wildlife in Kenya from going extinction. I pray that he will be able to get more funds to buy his own truck to deliver water to the wildlife. Hope more people will support him and his project.
With folded palms,
Vivian
Patrick Kilonzo Mwalua is a true Bodhisattva and work himself consistently and compassionately to deliver the water to the wild animals in order to sustain their lives every day. From my point of view and understanding after reading the article, he has never thought of how hard to bring in the water but he just worries about the life of the wild animals. This is a selfless motivation with full of compassion to value the life of other living beings regardless of what forms they are born with.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this short article and yet powerful enough to teach us on how to act selflessly and compassionately towards the animals that needs our care and support.
With folded hands,
kin hoe
Kenya’s Patrick Kilonzo’s passion for the rich heritage of wildlife in the Tsawo West National Park ,and his commitment to preserving it is immeasurable, says an American volunteer Callaway. In this season of drought, he has been travelling the dusty roads for miles and miles in a rented truck daily, to bring 3000 gallons of water to animals ,like the elephants, buffaloes, zebras and antelopes, who are in desperate need of it. He fills up all the bone-dry watering holes in the area. He says, “If I don’t do this, they will die”.
He also visits local schools to raise awareness with school children about the wildlife that is also their legacy. He hopes that in doing this, they will actively work to protect the wildlife wnen they grow up.
So committed is Patrick that he will risk his life to get up in the middle of the night to deliver water to a dry water hole! How compassionate is Patrick!
Very touched of this man big heart to save so many wild animals. His compassion is unmeasurable.
Thank you for sharing this story.