World Female Ranger Week celebrates women in khaki
The Game Rangers Association of Africa honours female rangers across the continent.
This week, June 23 to 30, the Game Rangers Association of Africa is celebrating World Female Ranger Week. Lowvelder spoke to SANParks Honorary Ranger (SHR) Mandi Malan, who has been a dedicated ranger in the Lowveld for the last 15 years.
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Ever since she was a little girl she loved travelling with her father and camping in the bushveld or along the coast. This is where her love of animals and nature formed, which led to her becoming an honorary ranger.
“I joined the SHR in 2010 and was officially appointed as a ranger in early 2011,” Malan shared.
She has been involved in various activities, like the invasive plant removal project, snare patrols, project relax (for rangers’ wellness) and various anti-poaching projects.
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Her main passion is working in the snare patrols, which are carried out monthly in the Kruger National Park (KNP).
“It is very rewarding knowing that in the last 2 years we saved the lives of approximately 4 500 animals. We are saving wildlife one snare at a time.”
Malan describes the female rangers that she works with as a group of women who support each and are always there in times of need. “It’s not just any woman who can be a ranger. You see many horrific scenes and need to be able to stomach it. However, we need to see the bad in order to do the good,” she explained.
In 2022, she joined the Lowveld Regional Management Committee. She was immediately elected as vice chairperson and tasked with helping to direct funds for better conservation and ranger support.
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She has helped revive projects such as the Litter Awareness Project, aimed at educating children about recycling and litter in the KNP; and the EWT Brake for Wildlife Project, that determines the impact of speeding on the number of road kills in the KNP.
She is also involved with the Junior Honorary Rangers division and the Ranger Book Club.
