Women Restore Wildlife Habitat Thanks To San Clemente Charity

SAN CLEMENTE, CA —A San Clemente nonprofit is celebrating International Women’s Day by spotlighting 14 brave African women working on the frontlines of wildlife protection, fighting alien plant infestations, and restoring a wildlife corridor for elephants in South Africa.

The San Clemente-based Elephant Cooperation is helping employ and empower women across the globe. The Elephant Cooperation and Wild Tomorrow Fund have helped fund “The Green Mambas," a group of strong women doing heroic work in the South African Ukuwela Nature Reserve to protect and restore the local ecosystem.

All, during the coronavirus pandemic.

Wendy Hapgood, Co-Founder of the Wild Tomorrow Fund, spoke on the women at the preserve.

“Since October, the team of strong and dedicated women has been knee-deep in grueling work but equally thankful for the opportunity to support their families again," Hapgood said.

The alien invasive plants are a global catastrophe, she says. They cause both biological and economic havoc worldwide, alter the ecosystem, and become a direct threat to the recovery and restoration of wildlife, birds, bees, butterflies - all of the native biodiversity of fragile ecosystems.

"The biggest driver of species extinction is habitat loss," the group says. "Together, we can push back against extinction by saving habitat in the planet's most ecologically important areas."

The Green Mambas have continued to make a name for themselves and are now in demand at neighboring reserves.

“When Wild Tomorrow Fund presented ‘The Green Mambas’ project to us during the pandemic last year, we knew women empowerment was needed more than ever,” said Dziem Hoang, Director of Philanthropy Elephant Cooperation. “We are proud of the women and all they’ve accomplished during this period.”

In doing their work, the women had a few scares with large pythons, several bee stings and an encounter with a sleeping leopard in the bushes. Still, the Green Mambas's work has become a lifeline of income for them, their children and extended families within the community.

Shawn Sugarman, President of Elephant Cooperation, spoke on the project and the women doing the hard work.

San Clemente's Elephant Corporation is committed to protecting wildlife habitats and supporting communities living near wildlife areas.

"Wild Tomorrow Fund shares our mission and we can have a greater impact when we collaborate," Sugarman says.

In 2020 when the borders closed, many jobs disappeared, and poverty deepened.

The Wild Tomorrow Fund, funded by a generous $23,000 grant from Elephant Cooperation, paid for the Green Mambas services.

“Women, all over the world, are leaders in conservation,” Sugarman said. “We are excited to be helping The Green Mambas with their habitat restoration work."