Breaking gender barriers: Maasai women help boost conservation efforts in Kenya's Amboseli

On the plains of Kenya's Amboseli ecosystem, Team Lioness, an all-female community ranger unit, monitors wildlife and responds to human-wildlife conflict. Founded in 2019 by the International Fund for Animal Welfare in partnership with community leaders, the team started with eight young Maasai women and has since grown to 17 rangers. Many of them grew up in villages alongside wildlife.

Their work includes tracking elephants and other wildlife, responding when animals enter nearby communities, and working closely with local residents. Without firearms, the rangers rely on their training and experience when dealing with wildlife encounters. For the women of Team Lioness, the job is not only about protecting wildlife, but also challenging the idea that ranger work is a man's job.