Of the 300 rangers in Kenya’s Ambolesi National Park only one used to be a woman. But the times are changing: The first all-female ranger unit has just been sworn in.
People and animals share the 150,000 acres of community land at Kenya’s Ambolesi National Park. In a very male dominated profession and in a very gender-traditional country this is big, trailblazing news.
The recruits for the Team ‘Lioness’ are all from the Massai tribe and between 19 and 26 years old – and in each case the first woman from their family to be employed, as reported by the International Fund for Animal Welfare (Ifaw).
Their Senior VP Faye Cuevas says: “Each of the team Lioness recruits brings a new perspective and a different experience with wildlife compared to her male counterparts.”
The Lionesses were picked for their academic achievements, social skills and their physical strength.
