Akashinga
{{short description|Zimbabwean anti-poaching group}}
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| purpose = Anti-poaching
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The Akashinga Rangers 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.{{Cite web|last=Edraki|first=Farz|date=2018-10-27|title=Meet 'the brave ones': The armed, Australian-trained female fighters taking on poachers|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-10-28/akashinga-the-female-fighters-protecting-wildlife-in-zimbabwe/10418542|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-12-10|website=www.abc.net.au|language=en-AU}} The women of Akashinga were recruited by Australian conservationist Damien Mander, founder of Akashinga (formerly the International Anti-Poaching Foundation). The original 16 Akashinga were recruited to be conservation officers for Phundundu Wildlife Park.{{Cite web|last=Ratcliffe|first=Amy|date=2020-08-20|title=Meet the All-Female Team Stopping Elephant Poachers|url=https://nerdist.com/article/akashinga-all-female-anti-poaching-team-elephants-zimbabwe/|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-12-10|website=Nerdist}} The word Akashinga means "the brave ones" in Shona.{{Cite web|last=Nuwer|first=Rachel|author-link=Rachel Nuwer |date=2018-09-27|title=Meet the 'Brave Ones': The women saving Africa's wildlife|url=https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20180926-akashinga-all-women-rangers-in-africa-fighting-poaching|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-12-10|website=www.bbc.com|language=en}} The Akashinga Rangers are an arm of Akashinga (formerly the International Anti-Poaching Foundation).{{Cite web|last=Minutaglio|first=Rose|date=2020-08-12|title=This All-Female Army Protects Elephants From Poachers In Zimbabwe|url=https://www.elle.com/culture/movies-tv/a33562381/akashinga-national-geographic-brave-ones/|access-date=2020-12-10|website=ELLE|language=en-US}}
Operations
Rangers
Many of the Akashinga Rangers are vegan.{{Cite web|last=McMahon|first=Jeff|date=2020-12-09|title=Wildlife Poaching On The Rise During The Pandemic That Wildlife Poaching Likely Caused|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/jeffmcmahon/2020/12/09/wildlife-poaching-on-the-rise-during-the-pandemic-that-wildlife-poaching-likely-caused/|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-12-10|website=Forbes|language=en}} Many of the Akashinga are survivors of domestic abuse and/or sexual assault.{{Cite web|last=Froelich|first=Paula|date=2020-08-15|title=An inside look at Zimbabwe's all-female, anti-poaching army|url=https://nypost.com/2020/08/15/inside-the-life-of-zimbabwes-all-female-anti-poaching-army/|access-date=2020-12-10|website=New York Post|language=en-US}}
In March 2017, two rangers and a male trainer drowned while crossing a river.
= Notable former rangers =
- Tariro Mnangagwa{{Cite news|last=Steirn|first=Adrian|date=2017-12-17|title=All female anti-poaching combat unit - in pictures|language=en-GB|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/gallery/2017/dec/17/all-female-anti-poaching-combat-unit-in-pictures|access-date=2020-12-10|issn=0261-3077}}
''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. 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.{{Cite web|last=Ramos|first=Dino-Ray|date=2020-04-15|title='Akashinga: The Brave Ones' Trailer: James Cameron's Docu Sheds Light On All-Female Anti-Poaching Unit In Zimbabwe|url=https://deadline.com/video/akashinga-the-brave-ones-trailer-james-cameron-maria-wilhelm-documentary-short-national-geographic-earth-day/|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-12-10|website=Deadline|language=en-US}} Akashinga is also available to stream on YouTube.
See also
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{URL|1=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WUYQS40I9mw&feature=youtu.be|2=Akashinga: The Brave Ones}}
- [https://www.akashinga.org/ Akashinga Official Website]
{{Conservation and environmental foundations}}
Category:Animal conservation organizations
Category:Nature conservation in Zimbabwe
Category:Animal welfare organisations based in Zimbabwe
Category:Women's organisations based in Zimbabwe