After spending four years in the army as a weapons instructor and mechanic, and serving one tour in Afghanistan, Kinessa Johnson retired last November but promises to keep fighting for something she believes in.
She joined a nonprofit group (Veterans Empowered To Protect African Wildlife) who helps patrol and train park rangers to catch and detain illegal hunters. She says, “Our intention is not to harm anyone. We’re here to train park rangers so they can track and detain poachers and ultimately prevent poaching.”
Because of the photos posted on her Facebook and Instagram pages of her holding rifles, Johnson has received some negative feedback from the online community questioning her experience and motives, but refuses to let that get in way of reaching her goal of stopping poachers.
“I must say that I find it extremely disheartening to see so many bashing my ability based on my gender,” she wrote. “I work with so many awesome and capable female park rangers here in Africa, who put their lives on the line every day right next to male park rangers, and I think these comments are also disrespectful to these amazing women.”
