- The Cape Leopard Trust (CLT) highlights the growing problem of snaring in the Western Cape, which poses a significant threat to local wildlife, including leopards.
- The Snare-free Project, initiated by the CLT and its partners, aims to combat this issue through education, conservation efforts, and the removal of snares.
- The project stresses the importance of preserving biodiversity and avoiding human-wildlife conflicts, particularly on agricultural lands.
They are relatively easy to make from a piece of wire, string or cable often readily available, but they can be difficult to see.
The use of snares to catch small wild animals is a growing problem. This was evident when 10 snares were discovered on a snare patrol in the Bottelary Hills on Friday 23 August.
The snare patrol followed an information session hosted by Bottelary Hills Renosterveld Conservancy on Zevenwacht Wine Estate, where the Cape Leopard Trust (CLT) gave a presentation on this illegal hunting method, which is not only cruel, indiscriminate and wasteful, but a threat to our biodiversity.
Cape Leopard Trust training officer Hannes Kok said the trust focuses on research, conservation and education to conserve South Africa’s last remaining big predators, their habitat and ecosystems.
The CLT launched the Snare-free Project with partners such as Cape Nature, the Kogelberg Biosphere, Wildlife Forensic Academy and SPCA.
“We report animals in snares, respond to snared animals and remove snares.”
Using trail cameras, the CLT has identified several leopards in certain areas of the Western Cape (they roam widely, and there are only a few in a huge area).
Kok said part of its work is to try and avoid or reduce conflict between humans and wildlife, especially on agricultural land often on the periphery of remaining wild areas.
Not only have leopards and caracal been caught in snares, but many animals they prey on. ‘‘The leopards need those animals to survive,” Kok said.
Reasons for snaring include food, muti or traditional medicine, and decorative uses.
“A snare is an anchored noose that closes when you pull it,” Kok explained. “The material used is location-dependent, whatever is freely and cheaply available.”
Many snares are put out and forgotten. “The animals just lie there and waste away,” said Kok. Snaring is indiscriminate as there is no control over what gets caught.
Cruel
”Because the snare tightens the more you pull the more the animal struggles, the tighter it gets the more tissue and skin, and sometimes even bone, it cuts through,” Kok said.
It is a cruel death, even if the snares are pulled off the anchor, for animals die of open wounds that get infected.
“Leopards are strong enough to pull away, but if the snare is around them, it slows them down or they lose a foot because it is around their leg. then they start hunting things that are easy prey, like people’s sheep and pets. Then people kill the leopard because it is eating their animals.”
Kok explained that leopards’ low population density in the Western Cape means the removal of a leopard from an area upsets the ecosystem.
‘‘Leopards are of particular concern for the CLT as it’s a keystone species. If the leopard population is healthy it says something about the rest of the ecosystem.”
Research between 2017 and 2018, by interviewing farm owners, managers and workers in the Boland shows snares are more likely to be set by older people, people who don’t know it’s not allowed, people who have been working on the property for a long time or newcomers, including seasonal labour.
“People are trying to catch small antelope, porcupine, guinea fowl, feral pigs and so on. Small antelope and porcupine are the largest groups being caught. If you look at what leopards eat, it’s pretty much the same thing.
“If you remove a bunch of animals from an ecosystem it upsets the balance. Now leopards may need to look for other types of food. They start attacking people’s pets and livestock. Snaring is contributing to a bigger problem.”
Conservation coordinator Andrea Schnetler-Niddrie touched on legal aspects, noting it is prohibited to catch animals at all with any trap or to be in possession of a wild animal or a trap.
“Hunting a protected wild animal in a nature reserve without a permit, or in a conservancy, is R100 000 or 10 years in prison, plus a fine of up to three times the value of the animal.”
She said prosecuting people for snaring is very difficult. More often, people are charged for possession of an animal or carcass.
‘‘We need to make sure there aren’t any snares in the landscape in the first place. Trying to prevent people from snaring is what we’re trying to do and trying to remove snares when you do see them.”
Schnetler-Niddrie pleaded for zero tolerance and education.
“People are doing this because they’re looking for food. How can you be harsh on people who are already struggling? If you’re a landowner the best thing you can do is educate people.
“There’s a short-term benefit for people in finding, cooking and eating an animal. Landowners can probably try to help workers, so they don’t have to do this.”
The snare-free project encourages reporting and information sharing. If you see an animal in a snare, stay away, keep quiet and keep people away. Call the snare free number (076 127 8485) and share; the location, what animal is caught, and your contact number.
Visit www.snarefree.co.za to learn more.
