The courage and wisdom of South Africa’s Black Mambas

Por Amy L. Glover Drake

I was very fortunate to visit South Africa a month ago for the International Women’s Forum (IWF) in Cape Town. The warm and empathetic leadership of South African women was a refreshing source of joy. I returned from my trip inspired and more eager to work and contribute to my community.

I also had the opportunity to visit the area near Kruger National Park in the northeast of the country, where one of my guides told me about a group of women who volunteer their time to protect rhinos from poaching, the Black Mambas. Rhinos are at risk of extinction because poachers do everything possible to kill them and steal their highly valued horn, which is later sold at exorbitant prices on the Asian black market. Sadly, there are people who believe that rhino horn has magical properties and can cure diseases even though it is actually made of keratin, the same substance found in human hair and nails.

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