The women guarding the wild: Inside the World Female Ranger Awards 2025
The winners of the World Female Ranger Awards 2025, spearheaded by international NGO How Many Elephants, have now been officially announced, shining a global spotlight on the extraordinary women whose leadership and impact are transforming wildlife conservation worldwide. More than an awards program, the initiative celebrates real women, real stories, and real change—honoring those who protect endangered ecosystems, strengthen local communities, and redefine what leadership looks like in some of the planet’s most challenging landscapes.
World Female Ranger Awards 2025. Founded in 2021 by conservation advocate Holly Budge, the World Female Ranger Awards were launched alongside the pioneering World Female Ranger Week (23–30 June). Since its inception, the program has identified more than 5,500 female rangers globally—an impressive number, yet one that also highlights the imbalance still present in the sector, where women represent less than 11% of the ranger workforce worldwide.
“This year we are proud to introduce two new award categories and to provide grants to our winners, sponsored by How Many Elephants,” says Budge. “I have witnessed first-hand the tangible impact female rangers are having around the world—protecting wildlife, uplifting communities, and empowering women. I salute all our award winners and thank them for their vital work.”
The 2025 laureates reflect the diversity, courage, and ingenuity shaping modern conservation, each representing a different facet of environmental leadership.
A Scientific Breakthrough in the Amazon
World Female Ranger Trailblazer Award – Dr. Rosa Vásquez Espinoza (Peru)
Peruvian chemical biologist and conservationist Dr. Rosa Vásquez Espinoza, founder of Amazon Research Internacional, is recognized for her groundbreaking work blending cutting-edge science with Indigenous knowledge to protect Amazonian biodiversity. In 2025, she played a pivotal role in a historic legal milestone: securing formal legal rights for native stingless bees within Peru’s Avireri VRAEM Biosphere Reserve. The ordinance marks the first time an insect species has been granted legal rights anywhere in the world.
By advocating for pollinators that sustain fragile ecosystems and local livelihoods, Dr. Vásquez Espinoza has opened new legal pathways for environmental protection while amplifying the voices of Indigenous communities who have long safeguarded the forest.
Leading Rhino Protection in Kenya
World Female Ranger Leadership Award – Lucy Wangari (Kenya)
At Kenya’s renowned Ol Pejeta Conservancy, Lucy Wangari has dedicated more than a decade to wildlife protection. Rising from patrol ranger to Assistant Sector Head overseeing five rhino monitoring teams, Wangari’s leadership has strengthened patrol coordination, enhanced data-driven protection strategies, and helped keep poaching at bay in one of Africa’s most critical rhino habitats.
Beyond operational success, Wangari is deeply committed to mentorship, guiding young rangers and encouraging women to pursue careers traditionally dominated by men. Her influence extends well beyond the field, shaping the next generation of conservation leaders.
Courage and Coexistence in Nepal
World Female Ranger Guide Award – Doma Paudel (Nepal)
Nepal’s first certified female nature guide, Doma Paudel, is honored for more than two decades of pioneering conservation, ethical eco-tourism, and community empowerment. Her grassroots anti-poaching efforts contributed directly to Zero Rhino Poaching in Chitwan since 2011, while her organization, Wildlife Victim Fund Nepal, has transformed how communities respond to human-wildlife conflict.
Despite the tragic loss of her mother in a rhino attack, Paudel has continued her fearless advocacy for coexistence between people and wildlife. Her leadership demonstrates how conservation can protect both biodiversity and human dignity.
Strength in Numbers in Zambia
World Female Ranger Team Award – Conservation South Luangwa (Zambia)
The 18 Female Community Scouts of Conservation South Luangwa represent the collective power of women in frontline conservation. Protecting 1.4 million hectares of wilderness, the team completed 188 patrols over the past year, contributing more than 18,000 person-days of protection. Their efforts led to the removal of 112 snares and the confiscation of seven illegal firearms—tangible results that directly save wildlife.
Equally impactful is their role in challenging deeply rooted gender norms within one of Africa’s toughest conservation landscapes, proving that women are not only capable but indispensable in protecting natural heritage.
Inspiring the Next Generation
Special Mention – Haley Drane (Kenya)
At just eight years old, Haley Drane embodies the future of conservation leadership. Trained alongside female ranger units in Kenya, including the Big Life Foundation and Ol Pejeta Conservancy, Haley uses storytelling and education to inspire children worldwide to care for wildlife. Her work demonstrates that conservation awareness can begin at any age—and that passion has no minimum requirement.
A Global Movement for Equity and Impact
Support for the initiative continues to grow among conservation leaders worldwide. Dr. Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka, Ambassador for World Female Ranger Week, emphasizes the importance of recognition: “Gender equity in conservation remains a critical issue. While there is still much work to do, the World Female Ranger Awards play a vital role in raising awareness and recognizing the extraordinary contributions of women protecting our planet.”
As climate pressures intensify and biodiversity faces unprecedented threats, the role of female rangers has never been more vital. Their work bridges science, community engagement, law enforcement, education, and cultural preservation—often under extreme physical and political challenges.
The World Female Ranger Awards 2025 do more than celebrate individual achievement; they illuminate a global movement redefining conservation leadership. These women are not only protecting wildlife—they are safeguarding futures, empowering communities, and proving that the guardians of our planet come in many forms, united by courage, compassion, and an unwavering commitment to the natural world.
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