Snarebusters removed nearly 1,000 snares in 5 months in operations around the Phalaborwa region of South Africa alone.
Eugene Troskie of the Phalaborwa Natural Heritage Foundation, said about 920 snares were removed between January until May, in the Phalaborwa area alone, by Snare busters.
“This is scary if you look at just Phalaborwa. What is that going to look like on a national scale?” said Troskie.
Figures and graphic images of animal fatalities and injuries, presented at a Snare Mitigation Symposium, held in September this year.
• 1,513 snares removed and 195 snare mortalities from Letaba Ranch Game Reserve in 2023 (Endangered Wildlife Trust),
• 685 animals poached and 9,440 snares removed from Kruger National Park in 2023 (SANParks),
• 201 out of 446 (46%) of veterinary cases in Maruleng District and surrounds were attributed to snaring (Wildscapes Veterinary & Conservation Sciences),
• 44,600 snares removed in Limpopo Province between 2017 – 2024 (K9 Conservation),
• More than 80 snaring incidents involving African wild dogs (Lycaon pictus) were reported over the past four years in Greater Kruger (Contemplate Wild), and
• 5,993 snares removed, with 385 animals found dead in snares and 27 rescued since 2021 in the Phalaborwa area (SA Hunters’ Snare Buster Program).