Every year, thanks to poachers, 30,000 species are driven to extinction. And in Africa alone, 96 elephants a day are slain at the hands of these poachers. But in Zimbabwe, efforts are being made to turn the tide against this illegal activity.
Through his International Anti-Poaching Foundation, Australian war veteran Damien Mander has put together a skilled group of women to lead the charge. These women are the Akashinga rangers, an all-female anti-poaching unit that is changing conservation in Africa.
Akashinga, which translates to “brave ones,” is an elite squad that engages with the community to change local perceptions about wildlife. And in doing so, they’re saving species and promoting biodiversity. A new National Geographic documentary by executive producer James Cameron and director Maria Wilhelm goes behind the scenes and captures Mander’s story and these incredible women.
Akashinga is a community-driven conservation model on a mission to empower disadvantaged women to restore and manage a network of wilderness areas as an alternative economic model to trophy hunting.
