Have-a-go heroes: the women saving elephants in their free time

With one elephant killed every 25 minutes, the poaching crisis continues. But with the commitment and activism of a growing global network - dominated by women - laws and attitudes around the world are changing

If dedication and hard work were all it took, Maria Mossman would have saved every last elephant by now. Despite having two children, aged five and seven, and a part-time job for a large corporation, she also spends 35 to 40 hours a week as an unpaid activist. It was even more time when the children were younger. "I used to come home from work at about 4pm and then sit on my computer, networking with other groups and activists until two o'clock in the morning," she recalls.

Mossman, 41, got heavily involved in elephant activism in 2013. As well as founding Action for Elephants UK (AFEUK), she's one of the key organisers of the global elephant and rhino marches. "It's really hard work," she says. "Really stressful. Just before the marches you say: 'We're not going to do this again.' And as soon as one is over you start planning the next one."