<p>Nibi the beaver was rescued as a baby from a highway in Massachusetts two years ago. The rescuers and many people across the world love her to the extent that they are heartbroken at the prospect of her being released back into the wild.</p>

<p>The minor internet celebrity's fate became such a big issue that even the governor of the US state chimed in. On Friday (Oct 4), the Massachusetts Supreme Court will decide if the dam-building animal will have to say goodbye to her humans.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cj8X-R3pLQD/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);">
<div style="padding:16px;">
<div style=" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;">
<div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;">&nbsp;</div>

<div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;">
<div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;">&nbsp;</div>

<div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;">&nbsp;</div>
</div>
</div>

<div style="padding: 19% 0;">&nbsp;</div>

<div style="display:block; height:50px; margin:0 auto 12px; width:50px;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cj8X-R3pLQD/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;" target="_blank"><svg height="50px" version="1.1" viewbox="0 0 60 60" width="50px" xmlns="https://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><g fill="none" fill-rule="evenodd" stroke="none" stroke-width="1"><g fill="#000000" transform="translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)"><g><path d="M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631"></path></g></g></g></svg></a></div>

<div style="padding-top: 8px;">
<div style=" color:#3897f0; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cj8X-R3pLQD/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;" target="_blank">View this post on Instagram</a></div>
</div>

<div style="padding: 12.5% 0;">&nbsp;</div>

<div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;">
<div>
<div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);">&nbsp;</div>

<div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;">&nbsp;</div>

<div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);">&nbsp;</div>
</div>

<div style="margin-left: 8px;">
<div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;">&nbsp;</div>

<div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)">&nbsp;</div>
</div>

<div style="margin-left: auto;">
<div style=" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);">&nbsp;</div>

<div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);">&nbsp;</div>

<div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);">&nbsp;</div>
</div>
</div>

<div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;">&nbsp;</div>

<div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;">&nbsp;</div>
</div>

<p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cj8X-R3pLQD/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Newhouse Wildlife Rescue (@newhousewildliferescue)</a></p>
</div>
</blockquote>
<script async src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<h2><strong>The beautiful story of Nibi the 'diva' beaver</strong></h2>

<p>Nibi was an orphan beaver baby when she was rescued by Newhouse Wildlife Rescue. She became a sensation over the years at the rescue centre with her friendly behaviour and cute antics. She even started building dams indoors with twigs at the rescue centre: after all, she's a beaver, right?</p>

<p><strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/after-400-years-baby-beaver-takes-birth-in-london-gets-photographed-641441">Also read: After 400 years, baby beaver takes birth in London, gets photographed</a></strong></p>

<p>But where does she belong, under human care, or in the wild? She hasn't seen a winter yet and will have to be released into the wild if she's to survive the vagaries of weather. That's one school of thought, anyway. But others feel that she may not be able to survive in the wild.</p>

<p>It is known that animals in captivity when released back into the wild, have a low survival chance. Sometimes, exposure to areas larger than their cages or enclosures&nbsp;makes it difficult for them to navigate, often leading their hearts to exert too much, sometimes with fatal consequences. The other causes of death are predators, infections and the weather</p>

<p><strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/humans-can-get-the-disease-killing-beavers-in-utah-711834">Also read: Disease killing beavers in Utah can also be contracted by humans, officials warn</a></strong></p>

<h2><strong>The court battle over Nibi the beaver</strong></h2>

<p>On Tuesday (Oct 1), Newhouse Rescue managed to get an injunction from the release of Nibi into the wild. The rescue house and some 25,000 others who signed online petitions want her to stay with her caregivers. Even Governor Maura Healey appeared to be favouring Nibi to stay with the rescuers, but being a protected species, Nibi will have to eventually abide by the laws of the land.</p>

<p>Her fate will be decided on Friday when a court reviews the case filed by the rescue house against MassWildlife, the wildlife agency of the eastern US state.</p>

<p><strong>Watch | WION Climate Tracker: Britain makes 'disturbing' beavers illegal</strong></p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/wion-climate-tracker-britain-makes-disturbing-beavers-illegal-524599/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>As per Jane Newhouse, the founder of the rescue house, Nibi might not survive in the wild, because efforts to make her socialise with other beavers had failed. Nibi, it appears, loves humans more.<br />
<br />
Newhouse is worried that releasing Nibi into the wild might lead to her death, as she is not skilled at building a lodge, storing food or navigating a harsh winter.</p>

<p>Nibi now lives in a big enclosure with a pool, with round-the-clock food and other care and affection from her rescuers.<br />
<br />
All that could change on Friday.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Nibi the beaver was rescued as a baby from a highway in Massachusetts two years ago. The rescuers and many people across the world love her to the extent that they are heartbroken at the prospect of her being released back into the wild.

Nibi the beaver was rescued as a baby from a highway in Massachusetts two years ago. The rescuers and many people across the world love her to the extent that they are heartbroken at the prospect of her being released back into the wild. The minor internet celebrity's fate became such a big issue that even the governor of the US state chimed in. On Friday (Oct 4), the Massachusetts Supreme Court will decide if the dam-building animal will have to say goodbye to her humans. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Newhouse Wildlife Rescue (@newhousewildliferescue) × The beautiful story of Nibi the 'diva' beaver Nibi was an orphan beaver baby when she was rescued by Newhouse Wildlife Rescue. She became a sensation over the years at the rescue centre with her friendly behaviour and cute antics. She even started building dams indoors with twigs at the rescue centre: after all, she's a beaver, right? Also read: After 400 years, baby beaver takes birth in London, gets photographed But where does she belong, under human care, or in the wild? She hasn't seen a winter yet and will have to be released into the wild if she's to survive the vagaries of weather. That's one school of thought, anyway. But others feel that she may not be able to survive in the wild. It is known that animals in captivity when released back into the wild, have a low survival chance. Sometimes, exposure to areas larger than their cages or enclosures makes it difficult for them to navigate, often leading their hearts to exert too much, sometimes with fatal consequences. The other causes of death are predators, infections and the weather Also read: Disease killing beavers in Utah can also be contracted by humans, officials warn The court battle over Nibi the beaver On Tuesday (Oct 1), Newhouse Rescue managed to get an injunction from the release of Nibi into the wild. The rescue house and some 25,000 others who signed online petitions want her to stay with her caregivers. Even Governor Maura Healey appeared to be favouring Nibi to stay with the rescuers, but being a protected species, Nibi will have to eventually abide by the laws of the land. Her fate will be decided on Friday when a court reviews the case filed by the rescue house against MassWildlife, the wildlife agency of the eastern US state. Watch | WION Climate Tracker: Britain makes 'disturbing' beavers illegal × As per Jane Newhouse, the founder of the rescue house, Nibi might not survive in the wild, because efforts to make her socialise with other beavers had failed. Nibi, it appears, loves humans more. Newhouse is worried that releasing Nibi into the wild might lead to her death, as she is not skilled at building a lodge, storing food or navigating a harsh winter. Nibi now lives in a big enclosure with a pool, with round-the-clock food and other care and affection from her rescuers. All that could change on Friday. (With inputs from agencies)

Nibi the beloved diva beaver will stay with rescuers but a court will rule if she should be released into wild

The symbol of wildlife and urban wildlife protection, famous mountain cat P22 is no more. The cat who became an international celebrity was euthanised in California, United States, on Saturday. The 12-year-old was reportedly struck by a car and was suffering other serious problems.

Hollywood bids goodbye to mountain cat as famous Los Angeles lion euthanised

<p>As the sun rises over the Olifants river in the Kruger National Park, around 26&nbsp;women, clad in olive and khaki, step&nbsp;out of their huts to take on&nbsp;poachers. They patrol for miles every day, keeping the mighty rhinos, antelopes, cheetahs and wild dogs of South Africa out of&nbsp;harm&#39;s way. Far from the usual fragile, soft and fair-skinned image of women, these members of Africa&rsquo;s first all-women anti-poaching unit call themselves the Black Mambas.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Named after the dreaded, venomous snake of sub-Saharan Africa, the 26&nbsp;women of the anti-poaching unit have been responsible for arresting six poachers, reduce snaring by 76 per cent and putting 5 poachers&#39; camps and 2 bush-meat kitchens out of action over&nbsp;the last two years.</p>

<p>It is well-known that African rhinos are an endangered species in South Africa but few are aware of the speed at which these animals are fast disappearing from the face of the earth. Since 2008, poachers have killed at least 5,940 rhinos. The crisis is spreading to the neighbouring countries of South Africa, Namibia and Zimbabwe, all of which have experienced&nbsp;an exponential increase in poaching. For Africa as a whole, the total number of rhinos poached during 2015 was the highest in two decades.&nbsp;And if poaching continues at this rate, we would see rhino deaths overtaking births in 2016-2018.&nbsp;This means&nbsp;rhinos will become&nbsp;extinct in the very near future.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Much of the poaching can be attributed to the growing demand for rhino horns in Asian countries, mainly Vietnam and China. Though there is no scientific validation for its use, rhino horns are being used for ages to treat a wide range of conditions -&nbsp;from cancer to hangovers. The price that rhino horn fetches in the black market has also made it a coveted status symbol; people with wealth dish out a hefty amount to procure it. Its wide-ranging appeal as a decorative piece to medicinal usages has attracted the involvement of ruthless criminal syndicates which&nbsp;use high-tech equipment to track down and kill the animals. &nbsp;</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="row">
<div class="article-blockquote">
<div class="col-sm-10 col-sm-offset-1 blockquote-content quoteshare">
<blockquote>
<h5>Black Mambas are all local recruits. They come from economically disadvantaged communities, with big families and often they are the sole breadwinners.</h5>
</blockquote>
</div>

<div class="col-sm-1 blockquote-content">
<div class="share-blockquote"><a class="twitter popup" href="http://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=Black Mambas are all local recruits. They come from economically disadvantaged communities, with big families and often they are the sole breadwinners." target="_blank"><i class="fa fa-share">&nbsp;</i></a></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqquoteclosemark">&times;</a></div>
</div>
</div>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>In this violent, illegal and masculine world of the poacher, the Black Mambas are an aberration. They do not rely on guns and bullets as tactics to fight poaching. Rather, they take the route of nature conservationists, striving to create a strong bond and educate the local communities about the benefits of saving their natural heritage.</p>

<p>Any conservation effort would be incomplete and, more importantly, an imposition on the locals if it does not work towards including them. Transfrontier Africa, the organisation behind the Black Mambas, understands this adequately. Hence, the&nbsp;Black Mambas are all local recruits. They come from economically disadvantaged communities, with big families and often they are the sole breadwinners. Their vision for a poaching-free world coincides with a better future for their dear ones.</p>

<p>Black Mambas go through a rigorous six-week training programme, prior to being deployed with an existing unit where they gain&nbsp;experience. During the training period, they spend two weeks all by themselves, learning how to survive alone in the jungle and picking up the behavioural patterns of wild animals. Do they get&nbsp;scared? Yes, of course. Scared and shy. But as one of the trainers pointed out, &ldquo;they emerge a different person from the training.&rdquo;</p>

<p>The older and more established schools of conservationists have initially placed little worth on the capabilities of the Black Mamba team. But the women have not only fought the brutal onslaught on nature successfully, they have also taken steps to combat poverty and illiteracy,&nbsp;for instance, in the Maseke region. Integrating social and economic development programmes with the more focused goals of conservation is very crucial as poaching is inextricably linked to&nbsp;poverty which is rampant in the region.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Poor and unemployed villagers, particularly the youths, are the constant target of the poaching teams. One of the team members point out, &ldquo;because of lack of education, locals think of the day and not of the future.&rdquo; Black Mambas, therefore, start&nbsp;early, focusing on&nbsp;children so that the little ones develop a positive and intimate connection with the Park and everything therein.&nbsp;</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="row">
<div class="article-blockquote">
<div class="col-sm-10 col-sm-offset-1 blockquote-content quoteshare">
<blockquote>
<h5>Fighting heavily armed, ruthless, global criminal syndicates with VHF and GPS transmitters and few specialist dogs does not sound like the ideal job to have</h5>
</blockquote>
</div>

<div class="col-sm-1 blockquote-content">
<div class="share-blockquote"><a class="twitter popup" href="http://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=Fighting heavily armed, ruthless, global criminal syndicates with VHF and GPS transmitters and few specialist dogs does not sound like the ideal job to have" target="_blank"><i class="fa fa-share">&nbsp;</i></a></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqquoteclosemark">&times;</a></div>
</div>
</div>

<p>From far, we laud their work but can do little to reduce the dangers they face. And, the dangers are real. Fighting heavily armed, ruthless, global criminal syndicates with VHF and GPS transmitters and few specialist dogs does not sound like the ideal job to have. But these women are fearless. Leitah Mkhabela, a member of the Black Mamba rangers, said: &quot;I am not afraid, I know what I am doing and I know why I am doing it. If you see the poachers, you tell them not to try.&nbsp;Tell them we are here and it is they who are in danger.&quot;</p>

<p>In recognition of the work they have done in combating poaching and the courage they have shown to accomplish the goal, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) have awarded&nbsp;Black Mamba with the Champion of the Earth Award in 2015. In presenting the award, the UNEP executive director Achim Steiner said, &quot;Their many successes are a result of their impressive courage and determination to make a difference in (to) their community. The Black Mambas are an inspiration not only locally, but across the world to all those working to eliminate the scourge of the illegal wildlife trade.&rdquo;&nbsp;</p>

<p>As the dusk descends, Black Mambas go back to their families. The light of the bonfire melts into the fading light outside. These women are not in the war zone but they are fighters - one with care and commitments. They have taken up the cudgel to protect their hearth and the wild herds alike. In protecting the rhinos, they secure their family and, most importantly, find&nbsp;a purpose in life.</p>


26 women from disadvantaged backgrounds stand between poachers and endangered species in the African Savannahs

As the sun rises over the Olifants river in the Kruger National Park, around 26 women, clad in olive and khaki, step out of their huts to take on poachers. They patrol for miles every day, keeping the mighty rhinos, antelopes, cheetahs and wild dogs of South Africa out of harm's way. Far from the usual fragile, soft and fair-skinned image of women, these members of Africa’s first all-women anti-poaching unit call themselves the Black Mambas. Named after the dreaded, venomous snake of sub-Saharan Africa, the 26 women of the anti-poaching unit have been responsible for arresting six poachers, reduce snaring by 76 per cent and putting 5 poachers' camps and 2 bush-meat kitchens out of action over the last two years. It is well-known that African rhinos are an endangered species in South Africa but few are aware of the speed at which these animals are fast disappearing from the face of the earth. Since 2008, poachers have killed at least 5,940 rhinos. The crisis is spreading to the neighbouring countries of South Africa, Namibia and Zimbabwe, all of which have experienced an exponential increase in poaching. For Africa as a whole, the total number of rhinos poached during 2015 was the highest in two decades. And if poaching continues at this rate, we would see rhino deaths overtaking births in 2016-2018. This means rhinos will become extinct in the very near future. Much of the poaching can be attributed to the growing demand for rhino horns in Asian countries, mainly Vietnam and China. Though there is no scientific validation for its use, rhino horns are being used for ages to treat a wide range of conditions - from cancer to hangovers. The price that rhino horn fetches in the black market has also made it a coveted status symbol; people with wealth dish out a hefty amount to procure it. Its wide-ranging appeal as a decorative piece to medicinal usages has attracted the involvement of ruthless criminal syndicates which use high-tech equipment to track down and kill the animals. Black Mambas are all local recruits. They come from economically disadvantaged communities, with big families and often they are the sole breadwinners. × In this violent, illegal and masculine world of the poacher, the Black Mambas are an aberration. They do not rely on guns and bullets as tactics to fight poaching. Rather, they take the route of nature conservationists, striving to create a strong bond and educate the local communities about the benefits of saving their natural heritage. Any conservation effort would be incomplete and, more importantly, an imposition on the locals if it does not work towards including them. Transfrontier Africa, the organisation behind the Black Mambas, understands this adequately. Hence, the Black Mambas are all local recruits. They come from economically disadvantaged communities, with big families and often they are the sole breadwinners. Their vision for a poaching-free world coincides with a better future for their dear ones. Black Mambas go through a rigorous six-week training programme, prior to being deployed with an existing unit where they gain experience. During the training period, they spend two weeks all by themselves, learning how to survive alone in the jungle and picking up the behavioural patterns of wild animals. Do they get scared? Yes, of course. Scared and shy. But as one of the trainers pointed out, “they emerge a different person from the training.” The older and more established schools of conservationists have initially placed little worth on the capabilities of the Black Mamba team. But the women have not only fought the brutal onslaught on nature successfully, they have also taken steps to combat poverty and illiteracy, for instance, in the Maseke region. Integrating social and economic development programmes with the more focused goals of conservation is very crucial as poaching is inextricably linked to poverty which is rampant in the region. Poor and unemployed villagers, particularly the youths, are the constant target of the poaching teams. One of the team members point out, “because of lack of education, locals think of the day and not of the future.” Black Mambas, therefore, start early, focusing on children so that the little ones develop a positive and intimate connection with the Park and everything therein. Fighting heavily armed, ruthless, global criminal syndicates with VHF and GPS transmitters and few specialist dogs does not sound like the ideal job to have × From far, we laud their work but can do little to reduce the dangers they face. And, the dangers are real. Fighting heavily armed, ruthless, global criminal syndicates with VHF and GPS transmitters and few specialist dogs does not sound like the ideal job to have. But these women are fearless. Leitah Mkhabela, a member of the Black Mamba rangers, said: "I am not afraid, I know what I am doing and I know why I am doing it. If you see the poachers, you tell them not to try. Tell them we are here and it is they who are in danger." In recognition of the work they have done in combating poaching and the courage they have shown to accomplish the goal, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) have awarded Black Mamba with the Champion of the Earth Award in 2015. In presenting the award, the UNEP executive director Achim Steiner said, "Their many successes are a result of their impressive courage and determination to make a difference in (to) their community. The Black Mambas are an inspiration not only locally, but across the world to all those working to eliminate the scourge of the illegal wildlife trade.” As the dusk descends, Black Mambas go back to their families. The light of the bonfire melts into the fading light outside. These women are not in the war zone but they are fighters - one with care and commitments. They have taken up the cudgel to protect their hearth and the wild herds alike. In protecting the rhinos, they secure their family and, most importantly, find a purpose in life.

How women are protecting wildlife in South Africa

wildlife-protection

Wildlife Protection, News on Wildlife Protection, stories on Wildlife Protection, articles on Wildlife Protection, Wildlife Protection stories at Wion, Wildlife Protection news, Wildlife Protection latest news