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"I Am Strong, I Am A Woman, & I Bite Like A Mamba!"

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Photo: Julia Gunther.

A full moon rose over the Balulue Nature Reserve, a sanctuary near one of South Africa's most famous wildlife parks. Armed with her camera, photographer Julia Gunther snaked her way through the high grass. But she wasn't trying to capture one of the reserve's lions, rhinos, or elephants in her lens: Gunther was on the hunt for the Black Mambas.

Decked out in camouflage and combat boots, South Africa's all-female anti-poaching squad has a tall order: to stop the poachers who are killing some of the rarest and most endangered animals in the world. The poaching of rhinos alone has increased 9,300% over the past eight years, according to the Mambas, and lions, elephants, and pangolins (little, scaly creatures that resemble anteaters) are also critically threatened. Known as the "big five," the animal species that are most often hunted for sport are the lion, leopard, rhino, elephant, and Cape buffalo.

"South Africa is literally being stripped of its natural heritage, plus the poachers keep adapting," Gunther told Refinery29. "If authorities ramp up their checks on the ivory or rhino horn trade, the poachers simply switch to lions."

These renewed poaching efforts are partly fueled by demand from elites in Asia for ivory and the desire of hunters to keep lion heads as hunting trophies, as well as a growing appetite for pangolin meat in China and Vietnam.

Faced with the daunting mission of thwarting heavily armed poachers, some were initially skeptical about how effective a squad of unarmed women could be. But the Mambas have reduced snaring and poisoning by 73% in the past two years alone, and destroyed 10 poachers' camps. Gunther said she was immediately drawn to their story — so she laced up her boots and followed along. Ahead, the Mambas share their stories with Refinery29.

To sponsor one of the Black Mambas or help their anti-poaching and environmental education efforts, you can donate here.

Photo caption: Felicia, 27 (left), wants to study nature conservation and will teach her children about the Earth's resources. Joy, 24, would like to save money to become a nurse and to teach her community about nature.

The Black Mambas wait at an observation point, looking for any suspicious activity. Full moons are especially dangerous times for animals, as poachers take advantage of the extra light to hunt them.

Photo: Julia Gunther.

Felicia, armed with a spotlight, on the lookout for poachers during a night patrol.

Photo: Julia Gunther.

How did you first come across the Black Mambas?

"I read an article in The Guardian in the beginning of this year about the work that these 24 women are doing, and I was immediately drawn to their story. Their approach was so different from the standard anti-poaching efforts. It had all the elements of a great story: unarmed women against heavily armed poachers. The empowerment of women for positions that usually would have been reserved for men, the protection of the big five [species], not just for South Africans but for all humankind. All that made me want to spend some time with these wonderful and hardworking ladies," Gunther said.

Felicia and Joy check and reload cameras in the reserve.

Photo: Julia Gunther.

Felicia and Joy check and reload cameras in the reserve.

Photo: Julia Gunther.

The Black Mambas get ready for briefing outside the control room at their base.

Photo: Julia Gunther.

Leitah, 22

"I am strong, I am a woman, and I bite like a mamba!"

Photo: Julia Gunther.

What was it like to be out on patrol, photographing the Black Mambas?

"Tough. Exciting. Keeping up on their day patrols and staying sharp, alert, and awake during their night patrols. Never knowing what you will encounter," Gunther said.

The Black Mambas march through the reserve on patrol.

Photo: Julia Gunther.

Lukie, 26

"Poaching is very bad. It is important that animals live. The next generation must know the rhinos and elephants in life. If poaching is allowed, they will only see these animals in a picture. This is not right."

Lukie told Gunther that when she has children, she wants them to "grow up, be educated nicely, respect nature, and love God."

Photo: Julia Gunther.

What is the average day like for a Black Mamba?

"At dawn, teams of two to four Mambas set off on foot. They patrol the fences, looking for signs that indicate the presence of poachers. They search the buffer zones, looking for snares and traps. Day and night patrols last around seven hours. For the rest of the day, they can relax, cook, or read and study on their compound. And, always in the back of their minds, the possibility that they will run into one or more poachers, or even worse, come across a dead rhino, or other animals," Gunther said.

The Black Mambas take a break while out on patrol.

Photo: Julia Gunther.

Proud, 25

"I love nature, I want to know more and to stop the killing of rhinos and elephants. When I am doing this, I am protecting it. I want my child to know the rhino and the elephant and all the other animals."

Photo: Julia Gunther.

How big of a problem is poaching in South Africa?

"It's huge. Poaching has become big business, mainly due to demand from Asia. Rhino poaching has increased 9,300% in the last eight years. And it’s not just elephants: lions, pangolins, you name it," Gunther said.

"Until we manage to decrease demand, educate the local population about the value of wildlife, and come up with a viable alternative form of employment for the poachers, this is only going to get worse."

The Black Mambas march through the reserve.

Photo: Julia Gunther.

Black Mambas Proud (left) and Yenzekile find and disable a snare laid by bush meat poachers.

"I want to save money to further my career. I would like to be a paramedic if I can raise enough funds, otherwise I want to be a ranger," said Yenzekile, 23.

Photo: Julia Gunther.

What was the hardest part of shooting this story?

"There were some logistical challenges, like not knowing what you’d encounter on any given day. But also the fact that you could run into a poached rhino," Gunther said.

A Mamba patrols the fence, looking for animal tracks or early signs of poachers.

Photo: Julia Gunther.

Winnie, 22

"I am proud to be a Black Mamba. Many people don’t know that a woman can do this job. We will show them that we can do it. We are proud of it. When our children grow up, they will know the big five [species], and love and respect this nature."

Photo: Julia Gunther.

Winnie arrives back at one of the Black Mamba compounds after a five-hour dawn patrol.

Photo: Julia Gunther.

Nkateko, 24

Nkateko said that "I can and I will" is her mantra. "If you want to achieve something, you must work hard in life. I want to be a field guide. I have always known that I want to work in nature. If I get an opportunity to go to wildlife college, I know I will make it. I want to be at the highest level. I don’t give up. I will keep on trying," she added.

Photo: Julia Gunther.

Nkateko (rear) and Happy scan the reserve from a high point.

Photo: Julia Gunther.

Mirren, 26; Winnie, 22; Belinda, 27; and Dedeya, 26 (from left to right)

"I was so proud of Yenzekile, my sister. She is a Black Mamba and was the only breadwinner for our family. I loved to hear her stories when she came home. When she told me they were looking for more Black Mambas, I was very excited. I always want to stay in nature because I love it. I want to save the animals from the poacher. I’m proud to be a Black Mamba," Mirren said.

"I am not scared. I understand animal behavior. I’ve qualified as a field ranger, and I want to use my position as a Black Mamba to get experience. I would like to apply for a job at Kruger National Park so I can help people understand nature. On my off days, I teach the children in my community to understand nature, [that] it is important not to kill animals," Belinda said.

Said Dedeya, "I'm proud to be a Black Mamba, to save nature for our community and our children. I want to protect the animals for the next generation. I would like to study human resources and finance and work at Kruger National Park."

Photo: Julia Gunther.

Qolile, 21

"There is a lot of unemployment in the community. People need jobs," Qolile, Yenzekile's sister, said. She went to Timbivati bush school and told Gunther that she would like to study nature conservation and go further with the Black Mambas.

Photo: Julia Gunther.

Your bigger photo series is called Proud Women of Africa. How do the Black Mambas (just as Chedino, who we also featured on R29, does) represent Proud Women of Africa to you?

"What I want to show with Proud Women of Africa is that there are so many brave and strong African women who want to improve their communities, whether it be through education, activism, or simply by being who they are. The Black Mambas are the perfect embodiment of this spirit. They [flout] convention, care about their environment, and want to create a positive future for themselves, their families, and the whole of South Africa," Gunther said.

During a field trip, the Mambas examine an Impala horn.

Photo: Julia Gunther.

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