As rates of poaching in Africa continue to increase, one group has possibly found a solution. The International Anti Poaching Foundation founded its Akashinga unit, a heavily armed, all female anti poaching task force. Since they started operating in Zimbabwe, poaching rates of elephants in the area fell by 80%. Many of the women involved are from difficult backgrounds and have been abused, so this training uplifts them and gives them the tools to escape abuse and uplift their community. Their use of violence has been controversial but it is important to have this final line of defence. There are also other ways to reduce poaching, such as disrupting the supply chain of products from poaching, most of which go to east Asia. We are at a critical point in preserving the endangered species in Africa, and how we react will decide the fate of these animals.
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References:
1. IAPF. [ Ссылка ]
2. Mkono, M., Rastegar, R. and Ruhanen, L., 2021. Empowering women to protect wildlife in former hunting tourism zones: a political ecology of Akashinga, Zimbabwe. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, pp.1-21.
3. Anderson, B. and Jooste, J., 2014. Wildlife poaching: Africa's surging trafficking threat. NATIONAL DEFENSE UNIV FORT MCNAIR DC AFRICA CENTER FOR STRATEGIC STUDIES.
4. IUCN. [ Ссылка ]
Music by Lexin Music
Photo by International Anti Poaching Foundation
Video by National Geographic
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