Currently, less than 11% of the global wildlife ranger workforce is female. Shocking, right? I had the incredible opportunity to spend time with Fathiye, Ethiopia’s first female ranger, for One World Magazine.

In a country where conservation efforts are often male-dominated, Fathiye is breaking barriers, protecting wildlife, and demonstrating that women can lead the way in safeguarding our planet’s treasures. Female rangers in Ethiopia are rare, but women like Fathiye are inspiring a new generation of girls to step into roles once considered off-limits. Their work goes beyond protecting nature; it’s about paving the way for gender equality and creating a future where girls grow up knowing they can be anything they want to be.

Fathiye’s journey is a testament to strength, resilience, and the power of breaking down societal barriers. She is not only a protector of wildlife but also a role model for women across the country.

Together with journalist Daphne Wesdorp, we visited Fathiye at the Babile Elephant Sanctuary to document her work as a female ranger. We witnessed the harsh reality of the area’s declining elephant population due to illegal human settlements. Every day on the job is becoming more dangerous. Just last month, a colleague of Fathiye’s was shot and killed while protecting the sanctuary and its animals.

An article on this important issue has been published in One World Magazine.