Akashinga is an all-female
anti-poaching group in
Zimbabwe. The group is the subject of a 2020 documentary titled ''Akashinga: The Brave Ones''.
History
Akashinga was founded in 2017. The women of Akashinga were recruited by Australian conservationist
Damien Mander
Damien Mander (born 11 December 1979 in Mornington, Australia) is an anti-poaching activist and the founder of the International Anti-Poaching Foundation (IAPF). He is a former Australian Royal Navy Clearance Diver and Special Operations milit ...
, founder of the
International Anti-Poaching Foundation. The original 16 Akashinga were recruited to be conservation officers for Phundundu Wildlife Park. The word Akashinga means "brave ones" in
Shona.
Akashinga is an arm of the International Anti-Poaching Foundation.
Operations
In contrast to other all-female anti-poaching groups such as the Black Mamba Anti-Poaching Unit in South Africa, the rangers of Akashinga are armed.
Since 2017, the group has arrested hundreds of poachers.
Rangers
Many of the Akashinga rangers are
vegan.
Many of the Akashinga are survivors of domestic abuse and/or sexual assault.
In March 2017, two rangers and a male trainer drowned while crossing a river.
Notable former rangers
*
Tariro Mnangagwa
Tariro Mnangagwa (born 1986) is a Zimbabwean actress and conservationist. She is known for her role in the 2020 film ''Gonarezhou''. She is the youngest daughter of current Zimbabwean president Emmerson Mnangagwa and his first wife Jayne Matarise ...
''Akashinga: The Brave Ones''
The short documentary ''Akashinga: The Brave Ones'' was directed by Maria Wilhelm. It was produced by Kim Butts, Drew Pulley, and Wilhelm and was executive produced by
James Cameron
James Francis Cameron (born August 16, 1954) is a Canadian filmmaker. A major figure in the post-New Hollywood era, he is considered one of the industry's most innovative filmmakers, regularly pushing the boundaries of cinematic capability w ...
. ''Akashinga: The Brave Ones'' premiered in 2020 at the EarthXFilm Festival. It was an official selection of the
Tribeca Film Festival and was later broadcast on
National Geographic
''National Geographic'' (formerly the ''National Geographic Magazine'', sometimes branded as NAT GEO) is a popular American monthly magazine published by National Geographic Partners. Known for its photojournalism, it is one of the most widely ...
.
''Akashinga'' is also available to stream on
YouTube.
See also
*
Black Mamba Anti-Poaching Unit
The Black Mamba Anti-Poaching Unit (Black Mamba APU) is the world's first officially-formed, registered and recognised all-female wildlife ranger unit, founded in 2013, with the purpose of protecting wildlife in the regions of the Olifants West ...
*
How Many Elephants
How Many Elephants is an anti-poaching conservation charity based in the United Kingdom. The charity supports female and mixed ranger teams in Africa.
History
How Many Elephants charity was founded by British adventurer and conservationist Holl ...
*
Holly Budge
How Many Elephants is an anti-poaching conservation charity based in the United Kingdom. The charity supports female and mixed ranger teams in Africa.
History
How Many Elephants charity was founded by British adventurer and conservationist Holl ...
*
World Female Ranger Day
In its most general sense, the term "world" refers to the totality of entities, to the whole of reality or to everything that is. The nature of the world has been conceptualized differently in different fields. Some conceptions see the worl ...
References
External links
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{{Authority Control
Animal conservation organizations
Poaching
Nature conservation in Zimbabwe
Animal welfare organisations based in Zimbabwe
Women's organisations based in Zimbabwe
2017 establishments in Zimbabwe
Environmental organizations established in 2017