Snare Aware clears Illovo River “valley of snares”
After finding two dead monkeys and several snares in Lower Illovo, the NPO revisited the area to wipe it clean of any snares.
FOR those who have followed Snare Aware’s anti-poaching efforts from the beginning, it will come as no surprise that the non-profit organisation recently revisited the Illovo River “valley of snares,” in an effort to keep the area snare-free.
Also read: Snare Aware finds two dead monkeys in Lower Illovo
A Snare Aware member, whose identity will remain anonymous for their safety, explained that the area was one of the original snare hotspots the NPO tackled.
“It holds a special place in our history. When we had put immense pressure on the valley, the poaching subsided and through our camera traps that we set up at the time, we could physically see wildlife recovering,” said the member.
The NPO considers it one of its greatest successes, and to this day continues monitoring the area. The area has been quiet in terms of poaching, except for a flare up in 2023, when 23 snares were removed.
Also read: Snare Aware educates the youth
“A few weeks ago, one of our members noticed a pathway leading off an old track into the bush and immediately found his first snare. He methodically checked an area of the forest, removing a total of eight active snares and a dead monkey before a lack of light forced him to call off the search. In true Snare Aware fashion, we cannot leave an area unfinished. The team was deployed over the next few days and removed another 10 active snares as well as two more dead monkeys. A close call was observed at one site where fresh blue duiker droppings were found on the path directly between two snares. A lucky escape for a little antelope,” said the member.
They added that panga marks were observed in a tree near each snare and upon noticing multiple beer bottles, members saw that they were positioned in a directional fashion pointing at the setups. Snare Aware committed to maintaining pressure on the area before it gets out of hand.
For more South Coast Sun news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. You can also check out our videos on our YouTube channel or follow us on TikTok.
Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter and get news delivered straight to your inbox.
Do you have more information pertaining to this story? Feel free to let us know by commenting on our Facebook page or you can contact our newsroom on 031 903 2341 and speak to a journalist.
