Honorary rangers help remove over 800 snares
SANParks Honorary Rangers removed hundreds of snares and traps the this year in support of the field rangers of the Kruger National Park to minimise poaching opportunity.
The volunteer group, SANParks Honorary Rangers, supported the field rangers of the Kruger National Park by removing more than 800 snares in the past three months.
The honorary rangers’ last monthly snare removal weekend for the year was held from December 16 to 19.
Field rangers scout areas at the borders of the Kruger and inwards to collect snares and traps set by poachers illegally, to prevent animals from being ensnared and left for dead. The field rangers have to cover the whole park, which is why it is difficult to revisit the same spots in a short period.
This is where the honorary rangers and volunteers come in handy. One of the honorary ranger projects to aid SANParks and the field rangers is the snare removal expedition held at the end of every month.
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The Kruger rangers inform the honorary rangers of snare hotspots (areas where many snares are found at one place). The honorary rangers search the areas to find new snares. They collect up to 120 snares a day on average as they comb the designated hotspots. For every snare and new hotspot discovered by the rangers, a pinpoint-accurate location is recorded.
The snare removal initiative started in the early 2000s, but kicked off in 2013 again when the issue of snares and traps in the Kruger specifically resurfaced. The honorary rangers are partners in conservation with SANParks and cover 32 regions in the country, where 26 of its parks are located. The honorary rangers support the parks nationwide, and organise hundreds of projects to aid the Kruger in every way.
According to Jacques Malan, honorary ranger snare removal coordinator, more than 200 snares were discovered during the past weekend alone. “As the Kruger rangers have to cover huge distances and difficult terrain, that is when we step in to help. There will always be an opportunity for volunteers to help out and be part of a better cause; all they need to do is to contact us,” said Malan.
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