Lilly and Troy Otto, founders of Down To The Wire, say they grew up in the Lowveld and are passionate about conservation. “Four years ago, Troy came up with the idea of spreading awareness on poaching by transforming materials used to kill in a way to save wildlife. “We rework snares into handcrafted jewelry and other items.

The funds generated from sales of these items go towards the treatment costs to rescue and save animals affected by snares,” said Lilly. She said that there are many anti-poaching units and private reserve teams that spend endless hours out in the bush removing snares from wildlife areas. “These teams generously donate the snares to Down To The Wire as they serve no other purpose once removed from the bush.” She said their creations can be worn as a symbol of hope.

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“Bracelets, necklaces, earrings, bookmarks, and keychains are a few examples of what we create. We also create custom pieces based on a client’s needs.” She said they have a skilled production team and have gained a lot of experience over the past four years. “Our motto for working with wire is when at first you don’t succeed, try again,” she said. “We believe that no matter the animal’s endangered status or size, every animal deserves a second chance.

“It is our contribution in finding alternative ways to turn what once was so destructive into hope,” she said. “Funds raised are made available to a select group of wildlife veterinarians who have dedicated their lives to making a difference within wildlife conservation, to cover costs of treatment and rehabilitation,” concluded Lilly. Lilly and Troy can be contacted by email at down2thewire3@gmail.com.