Four of Bwindi’s passionate female guides and trackers – who have become role models for girls (Image: Adam Gerrad/Daily Express)
Four female trackers and guides have become role models to young girls for being “custodians” of endangered mountain gorillas.
Generous Kyosiimire, who has trekked into Bwindi as a tracker of the animals for eight years, called hiking into the dense forest “no joke”.
She said: “I’ve learnt how we can live concurrently together. Them in their wild, us in our communities. But when we’re together, I know what we need to do to live with those animals.
“We are custodians of the animals.”
She added: “It’s shaped me.”
Fellow tracker Immaculate Tukamushaba and guides Grace Atuheire and Christine Namusana also told how the job had boosted their confidence, improved their fitness and helped provide income for their families.
Immaculate, who became the area’s first female ranger nine years ago, said: “It provides me confidence and courage to move alone in the forest. It has helped me health-wise. Hiking these mountains every day is not easy.”
She also described becoming a role model to girls in villages neighbouring the national park.
Immaculate said: “Many people see me as a ranger-tracker. They pick that interest so if a lady can do it, then I can do it. Many villagers, mainly girls, have picked the interest to be ranger trackers because they see if a man can do it, what about me a lady.”