A fast-increasing human population coupled with high poverty levels has resulted in increased snaring that threatens our wildlife. Snares are simple but lethal devices usually made from high-tensile wire shaped into a loop, anchored down and placed in areas of high animal activity with the sole purpose of killing wildlife. Whilst they are mostly used to catch animals for bush meat, often as a means of sustenance for rural communities, their impact is huge. These heinous devices are totally indiscriminate in the slow, agonizing death sentences they bring. Intervention by a rescue team is often a creature’s only chance at survival.
Getting close enough to immobilize a distressed, ferocious animal is often the first challenge. Once down and out, the deadly wire is cut free and any wounds cleaned and treated before an antidote is delivered. The darting team beats a hasty retreat while keeping a watchful eye on the affected animal until it gains consciousness and is awake and alert. In this way creatures are afforded a second chance to live out their lives in the wild.
