Kenya’s First All-Female Ranger Unit is Rewriting the Future of Conservation

Dressed in crisp olive-green uniforms, a group of women stand together, their eyes scanning the vast terrain of Amboseli National Park in southern Kenya. One carefully adjusts a drone controller, her fingers moving precisely, while another peers through binoculars, tracking unseen movements in the wild. They have an unspoken understanding, a bond forged through training, shared challenges in the jungle, and a deep commitment to protecting their land and its wildlife. They are Team Lioness, East Africa’s first all-female ranger unit, breaking barriers in conservation and defying long-held traditions in Maasai communities.

Leading the charge is 27-year-old Purity Lakara, a Maasai woman who grew up just 30 miles from the Team Lioness Camp in Risa Conservancy. She has a warm, confident smile and deep brown eyes filled with quiet determination. Lakara, in many ways, embodies the strength and resilience of her team.

“Protecting wildlife feels like protecting a piece of who we are; it's what we've grown up seeing each day,” she said, calmly but determined. “When I see these animals thrive, I feel hope for the future of wildlife conservation.”

Yet Lakara’s journey to becoming a ranger was far from easy. In Maasai culture, women have traditionally been relegated to domestic roles, expected to shoulder housework, raise children, and adhere to practices like female genital mutilation (FGM) and early marriage. When she shared with her community that she wanted to be a ranger, she faced backlash about it — that is, except for her parents. “Breaking these barriers hasn’t been easy,” she told More to Her Story. “But it’s worth it when we inspire other women to dream beyond traditional roles.”

Lakara’s fascination with wildlife conservation began as a young girl, watching male rangers patrol her village and mediate human-wildlife conflicts. “Growing up, I saw only men as rangers,” Lakara recalled. “It felt like that was just how it was meant to be. But deep down, I wanted to be out there, protecting the wildlife I loved.”

When the opportunity to join Team Lioness came up in 2019, she knew it was her calling. That same year, the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), in partnership with local leaders, launched Team Lioness to address two pressing challenges: enhancing conservation efforts and empowering women within the Maasai community. 

“Maasai women have a profound connection to lands and their communities,” explained Patrick Papatiti, director of Olgulului Community Wildlife Rangers, an IFAW-supported program. “Their Indigenous knowledge and perspectives make them invaluable to conservation,” he added.

However, such roles were traditionally deemed too dangerous for women, as women were viewed as too weak for the job. Team Lioness shattered this perception. Lakara was one of the first eight women selected for the program, chosen for her leadership skills and commitment to her community. After three months of rigorous training in ecology, first aid, and conflict resolution, she and her fellow recruits were ready to protect Amboseli’s fragile ecosystem. 

“Those first months were tough,” said Lakara. “We had to prove we could handle the same physical challenges as the men while learning entirely new skills.” But by the time they were deployed, they were ready to redefine what conservation could look like in Kenya’s wildlife corridors. 

Today, the team has grown to 17 women rangers who patrol the Olgulului-Ololarashi Group Ranch, a critical wildlife corridor surrounding the 392 square-kilometer Amboseli National Park in southern Kenya. Their responsibilities include monitoring wildlife movements, mitigating human-wildlife conflicts, and fostering coexistence between people and nature.

Each day begins when the sun rises at 6:00 AM with a morning run and team exercises, followed by briefings to assign patrol routes. Armed with GPS trackers, binoculars, data collection tools, and a drone, the team walks over 15 kilometers daily, collecting wildlife data and resolving conflicts when animals stray into human settlements.

“We’ve had moments where elephants wandered into farms or lions preyed on livestock,” said Lakara. “Using drones, we can safely track the animals and guide them back to the park without endangering anyone.”

This blend of modern technology and Indigenous knowledge has significantly enhanced their efficiency. The drones also help monitor the health of wildlife and water points, ensuring sustainable resource management within the conservancies.

Patrick Papatiti emphasizes the broader impact of this technology. “Drones provide critical real-time data that informs decision-making,” he said. “They’re very important tools for monitoring wildlife behavior, and it's key as we shift towards more innovative and effective conservation tools.”

But like many other demanding jobs, this work is not without risks. The rangers face numerous challenges, from navigating treacherous terrain to confronting dangerous wildlife. Lakara recalled a harrowing encounter with a charging buffalo during a patrol.

“We had no time to think. Everyone scattered, and I found myself diving into a warthog burrow for safety,” she said, though the memory underscores the dangers of their mission. Despite these risks, the rangers draw strength from their shared purpose. “We’ve learned to read animal behavior and respond accordingly,” said Lakara. “These skills are what keep us alive in the jungle.”

Team Lioness’s roles extend beyond patrolling; they are also mothers, wives, and daughters. Balancing these responsibilities is no small feat. They have devised systems to support one another, such as rotational schedules allowing rangers to work for three consecutive weeks and one week off to spend time with their families. Those returning from maternity leave take on lighter duties, ensuring they can care for their babies while contributing to the team within the camp. 

In Kenya, their impact extends far beyond conservation. By challenging gender norms, they have inspired more girls in their community to pursue education and careers traditionally reserved for men. Lucy Olencha, a 29-year-old ranger, credits her mother’s advocacy for education with shaping her path. “Unlike many girls in my village, I was lucky to go to school and join Team Lioness,” she said. After joining Team Lioness, Olencha has been able to start the construction of a modern home for her family, which will be the first modern building in her clan, and support them financially.

It is estimated that women make up less than 11 percent of the global workforce in wildlife conservation. In Kenya alone, less than 5 percent of rangers are women. Yet studies show that increasing women’s participation enhances biodiversity outcomes and strengthens community resilience. In East Africa, similar initiatives are gaining momentum, such as all-female ranger units in Tanzania protecting the Serengeti National Reserve. 

“Women approach conservation with empathy and collaboration,” said George Lupembe, a community leader in Amboseli and an advocate for women’s and girls’ empowerment. "This approach fosters trust within communities, which is critical for sustainable wildlife conservation."

Team Lioness has not only reduced human-wildlife conflicts but also fostered a cultural shift within the Maasai community. Londomon Olencha, Lucy’s mother, notes the ripple effect of their work. “People doubted them at first, saying women are weak. But now, the community sees the value of their work and the impact it has on the communities.”

By engaging in wildlife conservation and resolving human-wildlife conflicts empathetically, the team has helped locals understand the importance of coexistence with wildlife. “Conservation isn’t just about wildlife, it’s about people. By bringing women into this work, we have brought empathy, collaboration, and a perspective that transforms how communities coexist with nature peacefully,” said Lupembe.

Today, Team Lioness's mission extends beyond protecting wildlife to inspiring future generations and redefining what’s possible for women in communities rooted in traditional cultures that leave them behind progress.

“We’re not just rangers,” said Olencha. “We’re changemakers for the Maasai community and beyond. This is only the beginning, and we hope more girls will join us.”