In March, Women’s History Month celebrates the vital role of women in today’s world. Here at WWW, we have featured two individual lives who have positively impacted so many through their wildlife conservation work. As women role models in their respective countries of Thailand and Kenya, they continue to make powerful contributions in their community.
Lek Chailert
During her childhood in a small hill tribe village near Chiang Mai, Thailand, Lek Chailert helped her grandfather with sick and injured animals. At this young age, she loved all kinds of animals -and especially the elephant.
At the age of 16, she came upon elephants doing hard labor at a logging operation in the mountains. Upon seeing this, it awakened her resolve to fight to create a better world for them. Ever since then, Lek began advocating for positive change for the Asian elephant, its welfare and protection. ( In Thailand, the Asian elephant is the national symbol and first became listed as endangered under the U.S. Endangered Species Act ( ESA) in 1976. The Asian elephant is still classified as endangered today ). Lek founded Elephant Nature Park, a sanctuary for more than 35 elephants that have been saved from tourist and illegal logging industries and countless other animals such as rescued pigs, cows, birds, cats, dogs, etc. Also Save Elephant Foundation is her Thai non-profit dedicated to providing care and assistance to Asian elephants through a multi-faceted approach that includes community outreach, rescue & rehab programs and educational ecotourism ( see our “Projects” link ). Through the years Lek has won numerous awards for her work and dedication to the Asian elephant and other animal rights causes. In June 2020, she and a large group of people went to the Thai Parliament and presented over 64,000 signatures to the government, requesting protection by law for the Thai elephant. In a recent interview, Lek said of the Asian elephant, “They are the color of the planet, they are beautiful. If we want to protect them, we have to do it right now.”
Munteli Lalparsaroi
Munteli is a coordinator of the “Mama Simba” of Ewaso Lions. ( Ewaso Lions in northern Kenya conserves lions and other large carnivores by promoting coexistence between people and wildlife. The lion population in Kenya now numbers less than 2,000, having declined by nearly 50% in the past few decades. African lions could become extinct within the next 20 years if the current trend continues ).
Typically women in Samburu society run the household and do not participate in decision-making at the community level. They are in charge of the firewood, getting water, tending to the livestock, etc. As they manage these natural resources, they often come into contact with the wildlife. Munteli was very eager to get involved in conservation and along with her friend, Mparasaroi, they approached Ewaso Lions asking for training and education. This led to the creation of the “Mama Simba” Program. This program empowers women in all aspects of their lives. Mama Simba ladies can now not only speak up for lions; they are provided with the knowledge and skills they need to reduce their environmental impact, improve livelihoods, and help conserve and coexist with wildlife.
As a major force behind the Mama Simba (mother of lions) program, Munteli works to empower and connect the Samburu women in the cause of conservation. She now trains and mentors the Mama Simba ladies and every Saturday they gather at the local school to learn how to read and write. Munteli also supports the management team in the development of the Mama Simba program re: conservation workshops, wildlife safaris, the beadwork enterprise, a recycling program, etc. ( see our “Projects” link ).
Two ladies who lived in a village 45 km away, called Munteli one day and said they had heard of a Samburu woman with beads who drives. They couldn’t believe that a traditional Samburu woman was driving, in addition to saving lions! so they hired a lorry to bring them to meet her. With her pioneering spirit, Munteli had learned how to drive a car on an air strip in Samburu with lessons from Shivani ( Munteli is the first Samburu woman ever to drive a car ).
She continues to trailblaze new and exciting projects for the Mama Simba this year while advancing the conservation message in Samburu.