| City of Cape Town and Cape Leopard Trust aim to curb snares | City of Cape Town and Cape Leopard Trust aim to curb snares | | <img alt="" src="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/PublishingImages/District-Parks-Listing.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" /> | <p>On Friday, 9 February 2024, the City of Cape Town and the Cape Leopard Trust hosted a snare awareness information session and conducted a snare patrol at the Melkbos Corridor and Blaauwberg Nature Reserve. Conservation officials from across the City of Cape Town reserves attended to improve their knowledge and elevate skills on how to mitigate snaring, and to transfer learning back to their reserves.<br></p> | <p>A snare is an anchored noose made from wire, rope, or cable that is used to capture an animal. Snares are a common method to catch wildlife for bushmeat in South Africa. In the Western Cape, across agricultural, fynbos and peri-urban landscapes, snares mostly target game species such as small antelope and porcupine.<br></p><div>‘This illegal hunting method is indiscriminate and cruel. Animals are usually trapped in a snare for an indefinite number of hours and they usually sustain massive tissue damage and they cannot simply be released without treatment. The pain the animal endures is unimaginable. We urge residents to refrain from using snares and to report them if found,’ said the City’s Deputy Mayor and Mayoral Committee Member for Spatial Planning and Environment, Alderman Eddie Andrews.</div><div><br></div><div>Caught animals die from dehydration, starvation, and infected injuries where the snare cuts into the flesh. It is a slow, agonising death. Snares have significant negative impacts on biodiversity and ecosystem function. Snares remove prey animals that leopards, caracals and other predators eat, and this may increase the likelihood that predators hunt domestic animals. Predators themselves also get caught in indiscriminate snares. </div><div><br></div><div>'When I attended the launch of the Snare Free Campaign in 2023 I was profoundly impacted by the serious environmental impact of indiscriminate snaring. I committed to Cape Leopard Trust that we would arrange a snare-awareness training session for City of Cape Town Nature Conservation Staff. The training session and snare patrol we conducted is that commitment honoured. I encourage all residents to support the Snare Free Campaign and contact the snare free hotline and nature conservation authorities if they observe any snares in the environment,' said Councillor Alex Lansdowne who helped initiate and participated in the information session.<br></div><div><br></div><div>According to the Cape Leopard Trust, the use of snares is becoming more common across the Western Cape. During the information session the extent of the snaring crisis was emphasised when it was mentioned that a Cape Leopard Trust patrol officer found 671 snares during 209 patrols across 112 properties as part of a one-year snare-monitoring project in the Boland region of the Western Cape. Anecdotal reports of snares and animals caught in snares in the City of Cape Town also appear to be worryingly high.</div><div><br></div><div>Members of the public who discover a live wild animal caught in a snare in the Western Cape can call the Snare Free hotline on 076 127 8485. It is advisable to keep a distance from the animal, and have the following information available for the hotline operator:</div><div><br></div><div>•<span style="white-space:pre;"> </span>Where is the animal? (GPS coordinates/pin preferable)</div><div>•<span style="white-space:pre;"> </span>What animal species has been caught (if known) and more situational information</div><div>•<span style="white-space:pre;"> </span>Who you are and how you can be reached</div><div><br></div><div>Images from the information session and patrol can be found <a href="https://bit.ly/49t3WR5">here.</a><br></div><div><br></div><div>To learn more about snares and view additional statistics visit: <a href="https://snarefree.co.za/"><p style="display:inline;">www.snarefree.co.za<br></p></a></div><div><br></div> | 2024-02-10T22:00:00Z | GP0|#1d539e44-7c8c-4646-887d-386dc1d95d70;L0|#01d539e44-7c8c-4646-887d-386dc1d95d70|City news;GTSet|#62efe227-07aa-45e7-944c-ceebacca891d | | | | | GP0|#84137c07-f967-4579-9927-2958eb5bfac0;L0|#084137c07-f967-4579-9927-2958eb5bfac0|Melkbos Beach;GTSet|#2e3de6c1-9951-4747-8f53-470629a399bb;GP0|#d64855c7-48b0-4335-af84-edd59aede8d8;L0|#0d64855c7-48b0-4335-af84-edd59aede8d8|Blaauwberg;GTSet|#2e3de6c1-9951-4747-8f53-470629a399bb | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | 0 |
