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Black Mambas
Our fund aims at protecting elephants and wildlife in South-Africa. We can not protect elephants and rhinos without the support of rangers. Wildlife rangers are vital to win the war against wildlife crime as Poaching Wildlife Trade is in the top 3 crimes globally along with human trafficking and drugs.
In the area next to The Kruger Park where the projects we support are located, the all female anti-poaching unit (APU) called The Black Mambas is dedicated to protecting wildlife in South-Africa. They were founded by Transfrontier Africa in 2013 and have just celebrated their 10th anniversary!
Snares are normally used to catch small animals but they also hurt and catch baby elephants and rhinos. So early detection and rapid response is very important to prevent poachers of doing harm to elephants and wildlife. Anti-poaching units are the first line of defence providing boots on the ground and are responsible for the early detection of poaching insurgents through monitoring and surveillance during their daily patrols.
These women know it’s important to protect South Africa’s wildlife because it benefits their rural economy as the safari tourism industry creates jobs but even more importantly, they need to take the challenge to protect nature because nature protects them.
Moreover, with a passion for wildlife and rhino, lion, elephant and pangolin conservation, these women are the voice in the community through their conservation work.
Environmental Monitors want their communities to understand that the benefits are greater through rhino conservation rather than poaching, addressing the social and moral decay that is a product of the rhino poaching within their communities. They are concerned for their children’s sake as the false economy has brought loose morals and narcotics into their communities.
To deliver safety for both wildlife and communities they are required to stay physically and mentally in top condition by regular training.
The objectives of the Black Mamba project are not only the protection of elephants, rhinos, lions and pangolins through boots on the ground but also through being a role model in their communities.
The teams works to the concept of the “Broken Window” philosophy, striving to make the area of influence the most undesirable, most difficult and least profitable place to poach any species. With a passion for wildlife and rhino conservation, these women are the voice in the community through their conservation work.
They work on:
- collecting bushmeat snares
- monitoring camera traps
- keeping watch for evidence of illegal activity such as poisoning or bushmeat kitchens
- The Mambas offer environmental education on wildlife and conservation
- The Mambas are strong role models within their communities
Collecting bushmeat snares to protext small wildlife, lions, elephants and rhinos
Snares are normally used to catch small animals but they also hurt and catch baby elephants and rhinos. The mambas are the eyes and ears of the bush. They patrol the boundary of the reserve at dawn on foot and by vehicle at dusk, collecting snares and keeping watch for intruders. They don’t carry guns, just pepper spray, because their job is to gather intelligence and act as a long-term deterrent. This leaves the armed rangers free to concentrate on guarding the animals inside the reserve. If they detect an intruder, they call for armed back-up.
Pangolins
Since last year pangolins have unfortunately become the most trafficked animals in the world. These gentle creatures are considered to be a delicacy in some parts of Asia, and their scales are used for traditional medicines with the claim that scales help cure multiple health conditions.
The Black Mambas are boots on the ground in response to this crisis to make sure that this species will never go extinct. They work together with the highly qualified pangolin rescue specialist and the Limpopo Endangered Species Unit, Provet Animal Hospital, Umoya Khulula Wildlife Centre with the support of Rettet das Nashorn.
The Mambas offer environmental education on wildlife and conservation
Alongside their patrols, the Mambas run the Bush Babies Environmental Education Programme, which offers local schoolchildren weekly lessons about wildlife and conservation. They want to make poaching a thing of the past through education, inspiration and food security.
The Mambas are strong role models within their communities
When they come into the classroom, looking really confident, wearing smart uniforms and clean boots, the kids take notice. Many say they want to work in the bush like the Mambas. They also introduce them to other people working in conservation, such as horticulturalists. It gets them thinking about alternatives to being a teacher or a miner.
In Africa, women are primary caregivers who are good at building relationships. These women don’t want their kids to grow up in a world without wild animals.
After enjoying almost 10 years of financial assistance from the South African Government (Expanded Public Works Program of The Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries in South Africa), the Black Mambas APU, along with 2300 other conservation rangers, were left without this vital financial subsidy since the COVID 19 pandemic.
Therefore, Transfrontier Africa NPC founded the Black Mamba Alliance in 2022 to cover the deficit and ensure that the rangers that patrol these vital protected areas, would retain their jobs and continue with their critical work.
The donations we receive through this Izindlovu fundraiser go for 100% to Transfrontier Africa NPC who is responsible for all daily operational expenses associated with the Black Mamba APU and costs such as training, uniforms, equipment, food, vehicles and fuel.
Donate 10€
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Donate 25€
Because every donation, no matter how big or small, counts.
Donate 50€
When donating 50€, you will receive a donation certificate from the Black Mambas unit in South-Africa.
Donate 100€
When donating 100€, you will receive a donation certificate from the Black Mambas unit in South-Africa.
Donate 250€
When donating 250€, you will receive a donation certificate from the Black Mambas unit in South-Africa.
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