The legendary all-female anti-poaching unit, The Black Mambas, along with their friends, undertook a big trash bash; remind us all that conservation doesn’t stop at the fence line!
Limpopo, South Africa (10 December 2024) — The Black Mambas—South Africa’s ever-inspiring and ever-determined all-female anti-poaching unit—have proven once again that their dedication to wildlife goes far beyond protecting animals within reserve boundaries.
In an epic effort for the environment and the animals who rely on its resources, the Black Mambas (along with other Transfrontier Africa staff, volunteers and students) gathered with trash bags. Their mission? To tackle the waste problem that extends along the R40 road between Phalaborwa and Hoedspruit!
This effort underscored The Black Mambas sentiment that “conservation shouldn’t stop at the fence line.”
Indeed, conservation in many ways—and for most of the public—actually starts far beyond the fence line. We might not be able to work with wildlife directly as ordinary citizens, but we can fill up a bag with litter that has no business being near wildlife hotspots and contribute to a healthier ecosystem for them.
The Black Mambas-Transfrontier team worked for a good three hours to clear the R40 that was littered with everything from bottles to tins and plastic. The result was a healthy stack of black bags that filled up the back of their bakkie and would go on to fill up 1.5 waste skits!
It’s an effort that the anti-poaching unit hopes to enact more consistently, they hope the community will get behind it, too.
About the Black Mambas
The Black Mambas, an all-female anti-poaching unit formed in 2013, have been a longstanding source of inspiration to their communities. These fearless women have defied initial scepticism, operating without firearms to protect wildlife, and have successfully saved numerous animals from the deadly snares of poachers.
Some of their team have gone on to earn incredible acknowledgements, like Sergeant Nkateko Letti Mzimba, who won the Conservation ‘Oscar’ for Best Field Ranger in Africa last year, while the team as a whole have supported countless efforts of good for conservation—from their daily doings as rangers to educational awareness for the next generation.
You can keep up with all things The Black Mambas here.
Sources: The Black Mambas
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