Liberia’s East Nimba Nature Reserve is both a biodiversity hotspot and a conflict zone. Poaching, logging, and human-wildlife conflict pose significant threats to both chimpanzees and the communities that live nearby. Working inside it is Grace Kotee Zansi, one of Liberia’s first female rangers, a biologist, elephant tracker, and educator, who works closely with Liberia Chimp Rescue & Protection.
Grace grew up in a remote village where wildlife was often feared or hunted. As a child, she was deeply troubled by the killing of animals and made a promise to protect Liberia’s forests. Today, that vow has become her life’s mission.
Grace works not just in the forest, but with local communities, leading education efforts to shift attitudes and reduce conflict with chimpanzees and elephants. Her voice carries weight in a space where gender stereotypes have long gone unchallenged. In her words: “If the forest could speak, the first thing she would say is: ‘I’m under threat.’”
It’s not easy doing this work in a conflict zone. “We celebrate the invaluable role women play in the protection of the world’s wildlife,” says Jenny Desmond, founder of Liberia Chimp Rescue & Protection. “We stand by them in solidarity as they face extraordinary challenges and achieve remarkable successes.”
