POLOKWANE – A local farmer and recent target of small scale poaching told Review that the snares not only trap and kill the intended wild animals, but also the domestic pets and even young children in danger.
The culprits set mainly snare traps on smallholdings and farms. The snare traps are placed in open fields and along pathways where animals track through the field and have been the result of many animals being targeted and ever dogs and cats starving to death when they are caught and not found in time. A snare traps an animal around the neck or the body holding the animal in place for the hunter to free and kill and then eat.
Johan Wepener recently found several traps on his property and explained that the scale of this type of poaching is more than just a rabbit here and there.
“In the past few months I lost many smaller animals like rabbits and mongooses, of which I had three breeding pairs. I have also lost young antelope.”
“Recently, I had to have my golden retriever’s paw amputated after it got caught in one of the snares. My grandson was also injured quite badly when he accidently stepped into one of the snares,” said Wepener.
According to Wepener, the money spent on veterinary fees to either free the entrapped animals or to have them healed, runs into thousands, “and that does not even cover the cost of buying and replacing the animal in the first place”.
Crown Rehabilitation Centre
René Olivier from the Crown Rehabilitation Centre in the city knows well the reality of animals entrapped in snares. She has been rehabilitating animals at the centre for the past seven years.
“The problem with traps being set is that people set traps as they are hungry and try to catch food. The ‘wrong’ animals are then caught in the traps and suffer severely in most cases. The solution is not an easy one. People will remain hungry and the cycle of poaching will continue.”
Her advice to farmers dealing with the poaching of animals and traps is to stay vigilant. “Seek out the traps and destroy them regularly as this may discourage further hunting and poaching on the property.”
Residents who find wounded animals in traps and snares and need assistance can contact Olivier at Crown Rehabilitation Centre at 072 513 9149.
Anti-poaching unit
Lt Col Alpheus Mokale from the anti-poaching unit in Polokwane said the unit focuses not only on the catching of poachers and the theft of stock but also on the education of farmers and animal owners of the different traps and snares and how to look out for them. Where animals are being poached, the police can be contacted as it is a criminal offence and can be prosecuted by law.
