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Snaring in Kruger National Park Is on the Rise

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Author Alana Theron, BSc in Biodiversity and Ecology

Elephants playing in the Kruger
Elephants playing in the Kruger National Park, South Africa. Image by Simoneemanphotography via Depositphotos.

Snaring has become a growing threat in South Africa’s Kruger National Park. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, incidents have tripled, endangering wildlife and disrupting ecosystems. Poachers are setting stronger snares, capable of trapping not just small animals but even large species like buffalo and elephants.

The Silent Killer in the Bush

Southern white rhinoceros and African lion in Kruger National pa
Southern white rhinoceros and African lion in Kruger National pa. Image via Depositphotos

Unlike other poaching methods, snares are silent and indiscriminate. These wire traps don’t distinguish between species, capturing anything that walks into them. Once ensnared, animals suffer severe injuries, often leading to slow and painful deaths.

From Small Game to Large Targets

African Leopard
African Leopard. Image by Derek Keats from Johannesburg, South Africa, CC BY 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Snares were traditionally used to catch small animals for food, but poachers have escalated their tactics. Recent findings reveal the use of industrial-strength wire, originally designed to lift heavy loads, now repurposed to trap some of Africa’s largest creatures.

Conservationists Sound the Alarm

two zebras beside leafless tree
Kruger National Park. Image via Unsplash

Wildlife rangers and conservationists are working tirelessly to remove snares and rescue trapped animals. Anti-poaching units patrol the park, but with the number of snares increasing, protecting Kruger’s wildlife is becoming an uphill battle.

Impact on Kruger’s Ecosystem

Wild African giraffe in savanna trees, Kruger Park, South Africa
Wild African giraffe in savanna trees, Kruger Park, South Africa. Image via Depositphotos.

The rise in snaring doesn’t just threaten individual animals; it disrupts the entire ecosystem. Injured and weakened animals become vulnerable to predators, and population declines can have lasting effects on biodiversity.

A Call for Urgent Action

Nyala male
Nyala male. Pafuri Area, Kruger NP, Limpopo, South Africa. Bernard DUPONT from FRANCE, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Efforts to curb snaring include increased patrols, community education, and stricter law enforcement. However, to truly combat this crisis, public awareness and international support are essential. Without swift action, Kruger’s wildlife will continue to suffer at the hands of this brutal poaching method.

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