Akashinga Rangers Confront Armed Poachers

In 2017, Australian former military sniper Damien Mander began recruiting women for Akashinga, Shona for "the brave ones," an all-female anti-poaching unit in Zimbabwe. Its 39 members included survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence, widows, and single mothers from the Nyamakate area. They received military-style training in unarmed combat, camouflage, concealment, search and arrest, leadership, and conservation ethics before patrolling armed against elephant poachers. By October 2018, Akashinga had made 75 arrests while also working with authorities and local communities.

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