This all-female army protects elephants from poachers in Zimbabwe
In Zimbabwe, where an estimated 85,000 elephants live, the fight to save vulnerable species isn’t just a full-time job-it's a lifeline. Among Zimbabwe's most dedicated anti-poachers are the Akashinga women, a radical all-female unit that patrols five former trophy hunting reserves for illegal activity. The highly-trained, quasi-military troop is an arm of the nonprofit International Anti-Poaching Foundation. They call themselves Akashinga, which means "brave ones" in local dialect, and view themselves as guardians of the land-protecting elephants, rhinos, and lions from cyanide and snare traps. Many of its members are survivors of domestic abuse or sexual assault.
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ZIM_2020-08_Elephant poachers Zimbabwe_Journal of African Elephants.pdf | 2 MB |
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