Eldoraigne teen determined to save wildlife through snare-hunting

Community members along with the Down to the Wire team, removed more than 30 traps during a snare hunt near the Hennops river last week.

The Down to the Wire project was inspired by what founders believed to be a lack of awareness around snaring and the effects it had on wildlife.

“We found about 35 snares. To put it plain and simple, 35 animals’ lives were spared,” said grade 10 Hoërskool Eldoraigne learner, Liam Thomson.

“I got involved in the snare hunt project because I saw the number of wildlife in our community decrease due to traps.

“Wildlife and nature are aspects close to my heart. I have always grown up with it and have lived in an area with a lot of wildlife since I was younger.”

ALSO READ: Onderstepoort boasts new wildlife clinic

During the hunt, they came across small game traps, but there were also quite a few big game traps found.

“There have been cases where our larger game has also been trapped,” Thomson said.

“This is so important to me because I am extremely interested in wildlife conservation. We have seen such a decline in wildlife in our area because of poaching.”

“I would like to protect the little wildlife we have left,” he said.

“Snaring is one of the biggest threats to our precious wildlife. Anti-poaching units are doing their part by removing these death traps from wildlife areas.

“Once removed, these snares serve no other purpose. Down to the Wire’s quest is to rework these snares into bangles as a symbol of life.

“Altering brutality into beauty,” said Thomson.

Nature photographer and committee member of Crocodile river reserve, Corlette Wessels said that wildlife that managed to escape seldom survived without human intervention, and often slowly succumb to their injuries.

“Poaching numbers seem to be on the decrease since we have been doing more visible snare hunting,” said Wessels.

ALSO READ: 17 rescued big cats arrive at a South African Wildlife Sanctuary

“Unfortunately, they [poachers] become more creative each day. They would put about five or six snares in one area and chase game into a trap.

“It is devastating to see an animal trapped in a snare. They are helpless and die a slow and painful death,” she said.

Do you have more information about the story?

Please send us an email to editorial@rekord.co.za or phone us on 083 625 4114.

For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord’s websites:

Rekord East

For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram