Indonesia's female forest guardians fight for the environment

Sumini (second from right) briefing her team of women forest rangers prior to a patrol in the forest of Bener Meriah, Aceh province. - AFP

BENER MERIAH, Indonesia (AFP): Sumini gets up at dawn to do her household chores -- then leads a team of women into the jungles of Indonesia's Sumatra island, on a mission to battle rampant deforestation and wildlife poaching.

The 45-year-old mother of five heads a unique team of female rangers taking on illegal loggers and hunters threatening Sumatran tigers, pangolins and other at-risk wildlife.