If there’s one thing that poachers need to look out for during their nefarious activities, it’s the Black Mambas. No, the Kruger National Park hasn’t enlisted the help of nature in its anti-poaching efforts – but they have set up a new unit named after this deadly snake.
This team of professionals is dedicated to ensuring that you stand a chance to enjoy your full quota of Big Five sightings during your South African safaris for years to come.
Black Mambas – Behind the Scenes
The Black Mambas unit is unique in that it is made up almost entirely of women. The squad comprises 24 women and just 2 men from the villages surrounding Balule, which is in the north-west tip of the Kruger National Park.
These elite forces patrol the game reserve day and night, and they do it unarmed. The focus of these specially trained rangers is to act as a first line of defense. If they spot anything suspicious, they call in the big guns, and discretely keep tabs on the suspects until the armed unit arrives.
The head warden of Balule, Craig Spencer, came up with the idea in 2013 after every other effort to stem the tide of poaching in the reserve had failed. The Black Mambas have succeeded where the latest technology such as drones and thermal optics have failed.
Women’s Intuition
These women, all in their 20s and early 30s live in the bush for 3 weeks at a time, camping out in the open with only basic facilities. They spend their shifts tracking animals, searching for snares and checking fences for tampering. During prime poaching periods, such as the full moon, they double their efforts.
Spencer believes that the ladies on his team have an innate sense of something out of place and can pick up subtle changes quicker than men. Proof of this is their success rate. So far, the Black Mambas actions have led to the arrest of 6 poachers and disabled 5 poachers’ camps. Between them, they have removed over 1 000 snares.
Courage and Determination
Their tactic, if they come across armed poachers, is to put on a show of bravado. One of the band, a lady named Leitah puts it simply, "If you see the poachers you tell them not to try anything, you tell them we are here and it is they who are in danger." She goes on to say "I am not afraid. I know what I am doing and I know why I am doing it”.
Since the Black Mamba patrols started, only 3 rhinos in Balule have fallen prey to poachers, a trifle compared to the 23 that were lost in neighboring reserves. Their efforts have earned them the United Nations' Champions of the Earth award.
The next time you see a rhino or an elephant on a game drive, spare a thought for the effort and dedication that goes on behind the scenes to keep these creatures protected and thriving in their natural environment.
Get in touch if you would like to see the fruits of these ladies’ labors in person on a southern African safari.
