Meet the Woman Who Left a Career as a Fashion Model to Protect Africa’s Endangered Wildlife

Wildlife rangers are quite possibly the bravest soldiers in the global fights for animal rights and conservation. They literally put their lives on the line every day to protect the world’s wildlife against merciless poachers, and it is estimated a wildlife ranger is killed in the line of duty every three days.

Seeing as wildlife rangers are typically overlooked or underappreciated for their courageous efforts, we are glad to see a public personality bringing rangers into the spotlight. This person is Raabia Hawa, a former fashion model and TV and radio personality who is now an Honorary Warden with the Kenya Wildlife Service.

In an interview with the Unbound Project, Raabia explained that she has always loved animals, but it was not until 2008 when she was volunteering with a Conservation group, Care for the Wild Kenya, that she realized the impact of poaching.

Within the first hour of her shift, there was a call about a poached elephant. The gruesome, heart wrenching scene is what ignited Raabia to change her focus toward wildlife Conservation.

Hawa is also the Executive Director of Ulinzi Africa Foundation, an organization she found in 2014. Their primary focus is the welfare and empowerment of wildlife rangers, and it is the first non-profit of this type in East Africa. They also reach out to local communities and instated an amnesty initiative that allowed individuals to turn in family heirlooms of ivory and animal skins without being punished by the law.

Hawa admits in an interview with the Unbound Project that life in the Conservation field can be very emotionally taxing, and she finds herself losing hope at times. When this happens, she retreats to a quiet corner of nature with her rescue kitten named Puppy, who provides her with comfort and positivity.

We are truly inspired by Hawa’s efforts and appreciate her contributions to wildlife rangers and Conservation. Please share her inspiring story with your friends and family!

To learn more about the Unbound Project and their work featuring women working to protect animals, click here. 

All Image Source: Jo-Anne McArthur/Unbound Project