LIMPOPO – In only one week, the Phalaborwa Natural Heritage Foundation (PNHF) team removed 186 snares, apprehended a poacher, and witnessed the tragic loss of an endangered white-backed vulture.

The week began on a heartbreaking note as PHNF confiscated an endangered white-backed vulture from three poachers who were walking along a road accompanied by hunting dogs on Monday, January 13. The bird’s legs were bound, and it was visibly distressed. The team immediately rushed the vulture to the Moholoholo Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre for treatment.

The following day, X-rays revealed the heartbreaking news that the vulture had suffered a broken wing and leg. The injuries were untreatable, and the bird was euthanised.

“We are saddened about the fact that the vulture did not make it. Their numbers are getting less and less, and each bird is important,” said Eugene Troskie of PNHF.

Just two days later, on January 15, the team discovered a fresh snare cluster while following up on hyena activity.

During their patrol, they encountered a poacher actively checking his snare line. The poacher was apprehended and handed over to the property’s security team.

A total of 27 snares were removed from the area that day.

According to Troskie, investigations revealed that the poacher had been operating in the area for two to three years. During this time, he had not only hunted wildlife but had also killed more than four community cattle using snares. “These people are not just stealing from farmers and reserves, they are stealing from their communities by killing livestock and even pets in these snares,” he explained.

As the team was determined to leave no stone unturned, they returned to the area the following day to ensure no snares were missed. Their efforts resulted in the removal of an additional 58 snares, bringing the January total to an outstanding 186.