Female wildlife rangers!
Meet the extraordinary women changing the face of conservation…
Did you know? June 23rd is World Female Ranger Day! Come on gang, let’s find out about these wonderful wildlife rangers…
What is a wildlife ranger?
Wildlife rangers work tirelessly to protect wildlife from extinction. In their native countries, these brave people do everything they can to keep endangered animals like elephants and rhinos safe.
Across the continent of Africa, rangers are kept busy day and night. Working in small teams, they prevent poaching, clear up harmful snares that could harm wildlife, and patrol enormous wild areas.
Men’s work?
More often than not, wildlife rangers are men. In many countries, women are expected to work in the home (cooking, cleaning, fetching water, and providing for the family). Many women become wives and mothers at a young age, which means that they may not have enough time or freedom, to take part.
Plus, the hard and dangerous tasks of a wildlife ranger mean that the job is frequently seen as unsuitable for women. Ranger training can be a difficult and physically demanding process, which requires lots of skills that women are not traditionally trained in.
As a result, just 11% of wildlife rangers are women.
However, these women make up many successful female anti-poaching teams in many countries around the world, including at least 18 African countries.
So, let’s meet some of these incredible wildlife-defending women…
Nyaradzo Hoto
Nyaradzo is a 29-year-old ranger from the Akashinga Anti-Poaching Unit in Zimbabwe. She joined the unit in 2017, and studies Wildlife Ecology and Conservation at the Chinhoyi University of Technology alongside her job!
Before she became a ranger, Nyaradzo was forced to drop out of school and get married. Now, she earns her own money, and was able to purchase her own land and build a house – something many African women cannot afford to do on their own.
Sithabile Munenge
Sithabile is a Community Scout for the National Park Rescue in Zimbabwe. Once a tomato seller, she now protects wildlife and wild spaces within the important Chizarira National Park.
Sithabile says: “Usually, men are the first preference to be employed by companies. But now I have the respect of my community, and I will be able to build my children’s future.”
All-female teams, like Sithabile’s, often succeed in ways that all-male teams do not. For example, they are better at easing local tensions, and often help to strengthen relationships within their communities.
As a result, both animals AND people benefit from working with the female wildlife rangers. Plus, the job helps women like Sithabile access education, healthcare, and property – things they may never have got otherwise.
Leitah Mkhabela
Leitah has an incredibly responsible job – she and her fellow rangers are working hard to create a danger-free zone for wildlife, that is safe from poachers and life-threatening snares.
Leitah’s work with the Black Mamba Anti-Poaching Unit in South Africa has already saved the lives of many endangered animals.
She says: “when I started as a Black Mamba, people were scared of the training we went through. People said that this training is for men and we couldn’t do it because we are women. But people started to come around once the impact of the female rangers was clear. It has helped women in community to see themselves differently. People have seen how we want to do this and so many women started to support us.”
Hopefully, this means that there will be even more female wildlife rangers in the future! Yay!
World Female Ranger Day
Many people don’t know about the hard work of these extraordinary rangers, so UK charity ‘How Many Elephants’ have created a new awareness day: World Female Ranger Day.
On June 23rd every year, people will celebrate female wildlife rangers all over the world. There are many more women out there just like Nyaradzo, Sithabile, and Leitah, who are working hard to make a difference – to the animals, wild places, and to their communities too!
The founder of ‘How Many Elephants’, adventurer Holly Budge, teamed up with colleague Margot Dempsey to create World Female Ranger Day. Holly got to know many female rangers during her campaigns to save African elephants from illegal poaching. As a result, she knows just how important it is to encourage more women to get involved.
She says: “We are looking forward to bringing together female rangers around the world to celebrate their incredible work, identify the challenges they face, and provide them with the support they need through our fundraising and awareness efforts.” Amazing!
So hopefully, World Female Ranger Day will help support these wonderful wildlife rangers, and inspire even more women across the world to get involved. Brilliant!
If you loved this article, you can find out more on the World Female Ranger Day website. Check out their free teaching resources, here!
Thank you to Brent Stirton; How Many Elephants; International Anti-Poaching Foundation; Julia Gunther, and National Park Rescue for the images featured in this article. Thanks also to the World Female Ranger Day website for their excellent resources, including the quotes featured in this article.
Would you like to be a wildlife ranger? Let us know in the comments below!
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This is so interesting! This has helped me to find out about the amazing work wildlife rangers do at stopping poaching. I will definitely be telling my family about World Female Ranger Day!
I am always attracted to these kinds of articles and blogs. Animals are a huge interest for me. It's my dream job. Thank you so much Nat Geo for posting this Lots of love from India
AMAZING
Female wildlife rangers are so cool and should be able to achieve all their dreams!! No matter how hard.
Cool!
i wold love to
I think this article is very inspiring to a lot of people in the world. These female park rangers have done so much for the world and I think that they should continue that. Girl Power!
wow!
Amazing!
Hi there! I just want to pop in and say that in my school we did a debate on whether or not girls and boys should play on the same football team! It's good to see an awareness day that supports girl power! : D
that would be such a cool job...saving animals everyday! there should be more women rangers, definitely.
They are so strong
They are so strong
GO GIRLS!!!!!!!!!!!
I 'd love to be a ranger!
wow! being a wildlife ranger sounds like fun
Let’s take action!
Amazing! Thanks for the info!
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Loved it!!!
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you go girls
Love it
WOW
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i really liked this site and i learned a lot about wildlife rangers
Go girls!
Cool
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This is so cool! Go Girls! I'm just glad people addressing girls as equals!
Girls are amazing
that would be such a cool job...saving animals everyday! there should be more women rangers, definitely.
nice GIRL POWER
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Go you guys Save the animals
i think they are amazing
Cool
not bad it might be fun for girls not me
not bad
Amazing Female wild rangers are so cool!!!!!!!!!!!
I Love seeing women doing a difference in the world...as women we need to work hard to make a change for the future generations
Cool
cool
Amazing
I would like to be a wildlife ranger
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this is super amazing
this is a great it shows that women can do anything they want to do
Cool
so cool!!!
That is so amazing. They are protecting animals as women, in today's sexist world. It is so brave and fantastic. I hope they continue either their great work.
We need to help out
cool
wow
the rangers are doing whatever they can to support animals. that is very cool.
I’m so glad that people are finally recognising that women are just as great as men :)
That was really good. A bit long. I think you should make a book about all the things you just talked about. Good job!
cool
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wow
THIS IS GREAT!
even though I am a boy I support you there should be way more woman rangers
There so brave. I hope the girls stop poaching.
cool I like the work the female wildlife rangers do
they work so hard they deserve to be noticed
Wow! They are super brave! I would like to be one some day! I really hope I can make a difference! Hopefully someday people will stop poaching! Go Girls!
I think It's amazing what these women do. I'm glad that I was forced by my teacher to read this articule
This definitely teaches young women not to be afraid to stand up to men
When I grow up, i'm going to not be a wildlife ranger! :|
They are so brave
COOL
Your comment This was fantastic many people tried for the world
AMAZING
I REALLY want to become a wildlife ranger too.Anyone with me?
I really want to become a wildlife ranger too .Anyone with me?
Good job female travelers and explorers
Cool
I would really like to be a wildlife ranger.
I will most certainly take action!
when I grow up I will want to be a wildlife rager!
I love How we are including women! Please keep up the good work❤️ ✨Gender Equality!!!✨
Just fabulous! I love nature and really want to stop poaching, so I might be a female wildlife ranger when I grow up!
Natural geographic is super good do you want to be best friends with me
National geographic is so good
Great
I love female soldiers
This is incredible. Thankyou for your hard work and dedication.
I love the work you're doing! It makes me so happy
Wow so cool! It proves girls can do the the same as men can!!! I really love animals and nature so I really appreciate the work the girls do. :)
Wow I agree the stuff you are posting is brilliant I love it.
so cool
I love the work you're doing! It makes me so happy
I actually love animals and nature so i am realy apreciating this work
AMAZING
It’s great people are trying to stop poaching. I hope more and more lades get involved!
The educational resources are fantastic!
Equality is vital with humans and nature!
Great article
It’s great people are trying to stop poaching.
The books are good
Brilliant article. Well done for setting up such a great campaign, World Female Ranger Day
Cool
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