• Reel
  • Short Films
  • Docuseries
  • About
  • Contact
  • Menu

NAMUH MEDIA

  • Reel
  • Short Films
  • Docuseries
  • About
  • Contact
View fullsize  Dedeya Nkwinika and Proud Mkansi, Felicia Mogakane, members of the Black Mamba anti-poaching unit in Balule Game Reserve.
View fullsize  Felicia Mogakane, a member of the Black Mamba anti-poaching unit in Balule Game Reserve.
View fullsize  Leitah Mkhabela, a member of the Black Mamba anti-poaching unit in Balule Game Reserve.
View fullsize  Winny Nyathi, a member of the Black Mamba anti-poaching unit in Balule Game Reserve.
View fullsize  Lukie Mahlake, a member of the Black Mamba anti-poaching unit in Balule Game Reserve.
View fullsize  Lukie Mahlake and Winny Nyathi, members of the Black Mamba anti-poaching unit in Balule Game Reserve. 

Black Mambas

August 26, 2016 in Photography, Morgana Wingard

In northern South Africa, poaching rhinos and elephants has become endemic. On average, three rhinos are poached every day for their horns. A quarter of a million elephants have been slaughtered in less than six years throughout Africa for their ivory. 

The week before we arrived, 60 elephants were killed in Kruger for their tusks according to Johan Grobler who has overseen a connected private game reserve for over 20 years. They have 18,000 elephants. But, how many years will they last at this rate? 

The poachers themselves are the end of a long chain. Most of them just want a job or a quick buck in a country where the economy is struggling and it's hard to find work. 

We recently traveled to Limpopo to visit the Black Mambas—a female anti-poaching unit that protects Balule Reserve near Kruger National Park. The unit of 26 women is the first of it's kind. It was started by Craig Spencer, an ecologist and the head warden of Balule Nature Reserve, and Amy Clark, Co-Director of Transfrontier Africa. Together with another 23 armed guards, they patrol the boundaries of Balule every day looking for snares, bush camps, and other signs of poachers. 

The Black Mambas have identified and destroyed over 12 poachers’ camps and 3 bush meat kitchens within the “buffer-zone” as well as reduced snaring and poisoning activities by 76% within their area of operation since their deployment in 2013.

If you're heading up to Limpopo/Kruger area anytime soon, we highly recommend Gabi's place—a small bush camp buried in the heart of the Olifants Game Reserve. No fences between you, nature, and the animals. 

160607-southafrica-wingard-0403-web.jpg
160607-southafrica-wingard-0406-web.jpg

To learn more about the Black Mambas visit www.blackmambas.org.

Tags: Black Mambas, South Africa
Prev / Next

Featured Posts

Featured
Dr. Sanele Madela
Dr. Sanele Madela
Nambian Healthcare Workers
Nambian Healthcare Workers
Power Africa
Power Africa
Drones: A Helpful Humanitarian Tool
Drones: A Helpful Humanitarian Tool
Under the Knife in Tanzania
Under the Knife in Tanzania
CARE Learning Tour to Zambia
CARE Learning Tour to Zambia
Can anyone help us?
Can anyone help us?
Karamoja’s Mothers
Karamoja’s Mothers
Celebrating Uganda's Health Workers
Celebrating Uganda's Health Workers
Through the Pharmacy Window
Through the Pharmacy Window