Power couple from Alberton takes on snaring in Klipriviersberg
The first thing that Coetzer and Marais both identified is to start an awareness campaign around the dangers of snares with the help of a few anti-poaching organisation.
Bianca Coetzer and Devon Marais, a couple from Brackenhurst, are tackling the problem of snaring in the Klipriviersberg Nature Reserve.
This is after discovering a Springbok caught in a snare during a recent visit to the reserve.
The RECORD spoke to the couple to find out what inspired them to take on such a big task.
“Since January, Davon and I have been thinking about doing a field guide course. We never really knew about Klipriviersberg Nature Reserve until we discovered it by accident one day,” said Coetzer.
Coetzer and Marais were recently celebrating their anniversary with a walk-in nature when they came across a Springbok struggling in the veld and thought it must have been bitten by a snake.
When they approached the Springbok they saw it was entangled in what looked like a snare.
The Springbok didn’t make it and a few snares were discovered later where the animal was found.
This event inspired both Coetzer and Marais to join the Klipriviersberg Nature Reserve Association (KNRA) volunteer programme and to start a monthly anti snare hunting operation.
Coetzer said, “We both have a love for animals and hope to attract people with the same passion as we have to join the programme.”
They then launched an awareness campaign around the dangers of snares with the help of a few anti-poaching organisations.
“The first step is to equip oneself with the knowledge regarding different types of snares, how to identify them and how to get rid of them. We are also looking to the private security guards at the reserve to help as a guide to ensure we follow regulations,” said Marais.
“The next step will be to get approval from Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo to ensure that they are also on board with the project. Only after that can we start to get enlist volunteers to help clean the reserve of snares.”
They are also thinking of using technology like cameras and drones to help combat poaching.
If you are interested in helping Coetzer and Marais you may contact Bianca at 084 658 8720 or send her an email at biancacoetzer4@gmail.com.
