Snare Aware heads to greenbelt at Illovo Beach
With no signs of snares at the first stop, the team proceeded to the Illovo River Valley where two snares were found, upping their total to 918.
SNARE Aware continues to remove illegal snares from the bush, with a total of 918 removed from the Amanzimtoti area alone.
A member of the environmental conservation organisation, whose identity cannot be disclosed due to safety concerns, said they recently covered two areas that were needing some attention.
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“The greenbelt at Illovo Beach was the first stop, as this area is so close to the Karridene area that we have been battling with for the past year. We are slowly getting on top of that battle, but because of this, we expect that the poachers will target other areas, and snares have also been found in this bush previously. We are happy to report that no snares were found here on the morning sweep, with the bush being nice and thick after the summer growth, making access and movement difficult for people,” said the member.
They added that the sweep was cut short when someone reported an injured juvenile kelp gull close to where they were.
“We took the juvenile bird to Crow (Centre for Rehabilitation of Wildlife) in Yellowwood Park, who said that it looked like it had been entangled in fishing-line, and although somebody had removed the line, it was still extremely weak. The injuries sustained needed treatment because the scarring can actually prevent blood flow. So while we do appreciate the effort of freeing the trapped bird, if you do come across one needing help, please contact Crow so that they can provide the necessary treatment,” said the member.
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With time on their hands and eager to do more, they set out for the Illovo River Valley.
The member said some good ground was covered, but just when they thought things were looking nice and quiet, with some good signs of wildlife, they came across two active snares.
“Both were within a few metres of each other, on a well-walked game path. We will be back there soon for another sweep,” concluded the member.
To get involved, contact Snare Aware on their Facebook or Instagram pages. To report any poaching incidents you may witness, contact SAcan WhatsApp on 083 799 1916 or the hotline on 086 167 2226.
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