Changing the way people think about poaching
BROADACRES – Founders of the KaiNav Conservation Foundation, KaiIen and Navelan Padayachee are on a mission to change mindsets by creating awareness on poaching and snaring, an age-old skill which can probably be traced back to the origins of humankind.
It’s a tricky predicament in that many times, poaching is directly linked to poverty which makes it difficult to draw the line, Navelan explained.
Despite this, the brothers are clear that it is illegal to hunt without a permit. “I sympathise with subsistence poachers, however, it’s crucial to note that it is still a crime,” Navelan said.
The age-long practice was recently put back in the spotlight after the brothers received a tip-off from a resident, resulting in them performing a small reconnaissance operation in one of the urban green areas.
Read Kitty survives snare
“We recovered seven snares within an area of less than 50m2,” Kailen said.
Of the seven snares found, three were made of copper which, according to them, was interesting as it was the first time they had seen this material being used.
“We know that monitor lizards, bush babies, rock hyrax, mongoose and various bird species, including helmeted guineafowl, occur in the greater Fourways area, but other species such as hedgehogs, porcupine, jackal and genets have also been reported in and around similar urban areas of Johannesburg,” Kailen explained.
Both brothers are adamant that although they are against poaching, their stance is not anti-poaching but rather counter-poaching in that, as researchers, their main aim is to understand reasons behind poaching, provide alternatives, and use scientific data to identify trends and hotspots to be able to fight poaching.
Read Twins take on bushmeat trade
“Many times, the people who set up snares are hunters. This type of practice is passed down from generation to generation. It’s difficult to change mindsets when the people who do this don’t see the practice as illegal,” Navelan said.
In addition to this, the bushmeat trade may just be a symptom of a much larger problem. Despite this, the brothers are determined to educate people on what they feel is a growing problem.
“The illegal bushmeat trade in South Africa is thought to be big, and existing data from different sources suggests that the trade is increasing,” Kailen said.
Their KaiNav Conservation Foundation’s S.N.A.R.E Art Programme provides poachers with an alternative way to make money by selling artwork made from the snares found during their research. This programme creates an awareness of the illegal bushmeat trade while empowering underprivileged artists by providing an alternative to poaching.
The brothers hope to make people understand that poaching affects everyone, and alternatives are available.
Details: kainavconservation.org; www.facebook.com/kainavconservation
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