Reasons to be Cheerful · Mens en maatschappij

Women Leading the Way as Wildlife Guides in India

In India's wildlife reserves, women are increasingly breaking barriers to become skilled safari guides, offering a unique perspective and contributing to conservation efforts. Initially facing resistance, these women have proven their capabilities, paving the way for more female participation in a traditionally male-dominated field.

In Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve, women like Shahnaz Suleman Baig and Maya Jengathe were among the first female forest guides, starting in 2015. Despite initial skepticism from male guides and their communities, they have become proud professionals. Their inclusion was seen by Prabhu Nath Shukla, field director of Tadoba, as a way to tap into local talent and the distinct communication styles women bring to guiding.

Tadoba pioneered women guides in central India, and now dozens work there, with 52 guides currently employed. The initiative expanded in 2018 when Pugdundee Safaris launched ProNat, a program open to all aspiring wildlife and conservation professionals, not just internal staff. This program has trained over 270 alumni, including 35 women, who now work across India's wildlife sector as naturalists, filmmakers, and conservationists.

The path for women in wildlife careers was informal before ProNat, making it difficult for them to enter the field. Manav Khanduja, co-founder of Pugdundee Safaris, highlights that ProNat provides a clear professional qualification for women. Baig recalls a time when seeing a woman guide was rarer than spotting a tiger.

Guides like Gayatri Whadai faced challenges, including a close encounter with a tigress while retrieving a dropped item, emphasizing their focus on guest safety. Baig, Jengathe, and Whadai are now advocates for more women in the field, noting significant interest from aspiring guides.

In Bandhavgarh, Ratna Singh began training local women as safari naturalists in 2010, having trained over 2,500 people, including 250 women. She emphasizes that while the work is demanding, it is manageable for fit women. Suryanshi Thakur, a ProNat alumna, notes that once in the forest, gender becomes irrelevant, with interpretation skills being paramount.

Mokshada Mahajan, another ProNat alumna, stresses the importance of engaging storytelling in interpreting nature for visitors. Research suggests effective storytelling fosters empathy and emotional connections. Pugdundee's women naturalists are found to make guests, especially solo female travelers and families, more comfortable, leading to repeat requests for their services.

The trend of feminizing safari experiences is global, with Botswana's Chobe Game Lodge featuring an all-female guiding team, the Chobe Angels, since 2010. This has inspired similar initiatives and commitments to increase female representation in guiding roles.

Women guides are noted for adhering to rules, such as staying on designated paths, and their presence reportedly encourages better behavior among male colleagues. The profession offers a vital livelihood for local women, with earnings significantly improving their household finances and enabling better education for their children and family support.

Financial independence gained through guiding has empowered women and shifted community perceptions about women working. Men often become supporters when they realize the substantial income their wives can earn. However, challenges remain, including the cost of programs like ProNat and the limited training window.

Shahnaz Suleman Baig's receipt of the Billy Arjan Singh Memorial Award for Best Wildlife Guide in 2019 signifies a major achievement. She believes she and her peers have initiated a revolution, inspiring young girls and women to pursue careers as wildlife guides.

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