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The Black Mambas are the first all-women, anti-poaching team in South Africa: Working in South Africa’s Olifants West Nature Reserve , part of the Greater Kruger National Park, the unarmed team works to locate any poachers or snares (wired traps to haunt animals from their feet or neck) in the bush, a sergeant with the Black Mambas tells National Geographic. If the team spots a poacher, the women are trained to call for backup, rather than attack — particularly since the team’s goal is to save animals, not to kill humans. They know that poachers are typically one of their own village inhabitants trying to poach to feed their children, especially after the pandemic, which caused several people to lose their jobs as tourist numbers dwindled.
The animal population has improved. The results of their efforts also improves the economy, as it keeps tourists coming back, as animal lovers, especially children, get to watch the real rhinos — not only see them in books. When the team initially started its activity, they found 70 to 80 snares daily — afterwards their presence made a difference and they barely caught any. Nxumalo further added that they arranged a new program that aims to provide food pouches to families in the neighborhoods close to the park to avoid poaching. They are also working on raising awareness by visiting schools to teach them how to farm and have their own food.
Egypt is opening Africa’s first underwater military museum in the waters of the Red Sea governorate on Thursday, the Hurghada Environmental Protection & Conservation Association (HEPCA) announced ( watch, runtime: 0:25). The new attraction, which is a collaboration between HEPCA, the Environment Ministry, and the Red Sea governorate, aims to provide divers with unique underwater experiences as they showcase the country’s military history while preserving the natural coral reefs of the Red Sea by deterring divers from the usual diving spots.
The museum will consist of 15 artifacts in three different sites in Hurghada:Shaab al-Saqala, Uruq al-Tawil, and Arg Jama’ in Magawish , the Red Sea Governorate added in a separate statement. The project, which has been years in the making, is being set up in these specific sites to relieve pressure on more popular diving sites while creating new coral reefs, the statement reads.
