The Yankees

The western boundary of Manyoni Private Game Reserve represents a critical interface between neighbouring rural communities and a protected area supporting important populations of white rhino, black rhino, elephant, lion, leopard, cheetah and pangolin. Along this boundary, fence damage, fence theft, illegal entry and wildlife escape incidents can quickly escalate into human-wildlife conflict, biodiversity loss and increased poaching risk.

The Women's Fence Guardianship Programme, known locally as the Yankees, was established as a practical community-based response to these threats. The current team of 11 patrol staff, comprising 9 women and 2 men from adjacent communities, conducts daily boundary patrols, reports fence damage and illegal activity, identifies wildlife movement risks, and supports rapid response through field observation and communication.

The programme is both a conservation intervention and a local livelihood initiative. It creates employment and practical field skills for community members living adjacent to the reserve, while strengthening a frontline early warning system for wildlife protection and conflict prevention.