Teaming up for survival

Anti-poaching expedition

TWO rangers are killed and three rhino and 98 elephants are poached daily in Africa, and Durban-based Carla Geyser is preparing for her all-female expedition, Rise of the Matriarch, to raise awareness funding for anti-poaching projects and conservation across the continent to conserve all these endangered species, but particularly elephants.

Founder of the Blue Sky Society Trust, Geyser said the expedition would leave from the Gateway Show in Joburg on September 16 in trusty “Dora”, her Land Rover.

“Dora is being pimped and prepped for the trip and for her 21st birthday, we’ll be heading into Africa again. The trip will cover 9 000km over 50 days and will include South Africa, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia,” said Geyser, who also led the Elephant Ignite Expedition in 2016 on a 100-day journey into Africa.

For the latest expedition, there will be a second vehicle behind Dora. The trip will be divided into three legs and 12 women will take part.

Speaking to The Independent on Saturday this week, Geyser said how the matriarch of each elephant herd and the female elephants she led was an example to women of bonding and working together.

“The matriarch of a herd is not necessarily the oldest, but she’s the strongest in a herd. She rules with a gentle, but firm hand. She is definitely the leader, but she has her network of sisters. She has a strong