This archive report was first published on 5 August 2020.
On World Ranger Day, thousands of wildlife rangers around the world were restricted to their posts, unable to spend time with their families due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, for the women of Team Lioness, a group of eight Community Wildlife Rangers in Kenya's Amboseli ecosystem, the day marked a poignant reunion with their loved ones.
Supported by the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), Team Lioness is the first-ever cadre of female rangers in the highly patriarchal Maasai community. The team's members, aged 20-28, have been working tirelessly for months, patrolling the bush and protecting wildlife.
Two members of the team, Ruth Sikeita and Purity Lakara, were the first to return home to their villages, where they were greeted with touching celebrations and plenty of cuddles from their children. Sikeita expressed her joy, saying, 'My heart is full as I am seeing my son and daughter for the first time in four months.'
According to James Isiche, IFAW Regional Director East Africa, the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the lives of many rangers, forcing them to remain on duty for months at a time without a break. 'Every day rangers put themselves at risk to save wildlife,' Isiche said. 'Patrolling the bush for weeks at a time, they always look forward to that much-needed break to connect with family and friends at home.'
Team Lioness and the 76-strong group of rangers in the Olgulului/Olarashi Group Ranch are supported by IFAW. The organization's efforts aim to protect wildlife and support the critical work of rangers like those in Team Lioness.
