Bisley Nature Reserve just outside of Pietermaritzburg has been combating a spike of snaring in the park. Recently, a zebra was spotted with a snare around its neck for several days.
The Friends of Bisley Nature Reserve (FOBNR) – a group of concerned, conservation-minded citizens who work to preserve, and maintain Bisley for future generations – have had their hands full removing snares from trapped animals in the reserve.
FOBNR managed to locate a zebra that was seen a few days earlier with a snare around its neck and removed it on 11 August. Despite widespread condemnation of snaring in the reserve, FOBNR has had to deal with several incidents.
Upon approaching the herd of zebras in open grassland, the veterinarian identified another mare with a tight snare around her neck, which had penetrated 3cm into her skin. Both zebras had their snares removed and wounds treated with an antidote injected before they were sent on their way to rejoin the herd.
FOBNR appeals to the public for any donations or support. ‘The public are also welcome to join our anti-snaring team and be trained in snare detection,’ FOBNR chairperson, Peter West, told The Witness. ‘We believe that constant removal of snares before animals are caught will result in poachers deciding their efforts are unrewarding and moving elsewhere.’
Picture: FOBNR
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