An international elephant saving organisation led by a Kiwi is launching the first world female ranger day to help stop the annual poaching and killing of 35,000 African elephants.

The charity How Many Elephants, will promote the World Female Ranger Day on June 23.

The global awareness day will celebrate and support female anti-poaching rangers, spotlighting Africa in its first year.

The event and How Many Elephants charity is run by Holly Budge who has lived in Franz Josef, Taupo and Christchurch.

She is the first woman to skydive Mount Everest and has raced 1000km across Mongolia on horseback in a world record time. She has also been a skydiving camera flyer at Taupo Tandem Skydiving.

'Through World Female Ranger Day there is an opportunity for women rangers in New Zealand to become part of a global community of female rangers around the world,” says Holly.

'The female rangers are bold, changing the game and paving the way for women to stand alongside men at the forefront of conservation, but they need allies.

'June 23 will be the first time that female wildlife rangers will be recognised collectively on a global interactive and fundraising-focused platform, to tell their stories, have access to peer support, offer and receive advice, and share knowledge.

'As champions of wildlife conservation, as role models, as educators and as beacons of hope, these women are not only transforming attitudes towards the role of women in Africa and beyond but are also showing the capabilities and success of females in traditionally male roles.”

Less than 11 per cent of the global wildlife ranger workforce is female and the Covid-19 pandemic has meant national park rangers have lost their jobs or having significant salary cuts, says Holly.

'The knock-on effect of this is huge, as one ranger alone may support up to 16 family members. Additionally, reduced vigilance in tourist hotspots has left wildlife even more vulnerable to poaching. The work of rangers is paramount right now.”