Indonesia's female forest guardians fight for the environment

Indonesian housewife and forest ranger Sumini, 45, leads a group of women volunteers fighting a David-versus-Goliath battle to stop devastating deforestation and poaching of critically endangered wildlife in the forests where they live. Photos: 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.