Introduction to wildlife snares

A snare is a type of rudimentary trap used to capture wild animals for bushmeat. Once a trap is sprung, a noose normally made of wire or rope will tighten quickly around the neck or body of an animal, often causing a high degree of suffering. For this reason, the use of snares is heavily condemned by animal welfare groups. Snares are also indiscriminate, frequently capturing non-target animals. Some of these animals are threatened by extinction, making desnaring efforts crucial for the preservation of endangered species, many of which have vital cascade effects on their surrounding environment and its biodiversity.

The circumstances around snares

Around 4 million people live within a day’s walk of the Park, many of whom live in absolute poverty and rely on bushmeat as a last resort. Snares are also set by militia groups settled deep within the Park’s boundaries. As well as being easy to set in large numbers, snares are cost-effective due to the relative low cost of wire and rope and present a reduced risk of injury by limiting direct contact with wild animals. Conversely, animals caught in snares suffer immeasurably, with many sustaining injuries that lead to slow and painful deaths. The buy-in of local communities has been crucial in the fight against snares and the suffering they cause. Their cooperation and appreciation of wildlife lead to fewer snares and more effective desnaring efforts.

In 2022

  • 1988 snares were cleared

  • Virunga pilots conducted 27,435 km of air surveillance

  • Rangers patrolled 25,800 km by foot

Our snaring efforts:
  • Virunga’s trained Rangers coordinate regular desnaring operations with the help of local people. Snares are also dismantled during Ranger patrols.
  • Specially trained dogs are often used to track poachers by detecting human scent from clothing and snare traps set.
  • There are often spikes in snare deployment when Rangers movements are restricted by armed militia or endemics such as COVID and Ebola.
  • During the Christmas period, the increased demand for bushmeat also necessitates increased operations.
  • The Virunga Alliance aims to stimulate a green economy in order to protect the Park and fight local poverty. Such an economy can provide communities with stable sources of income through tourism and farming, reducing their reliance on bushmeat for survival.

Ranger Yaya with snares disabled during two months of patrols in Virunga National Park.

 

 

 

Virunga's Rangers on Patrol

In this short video, a team of trained Park Rangers ventures out into the rainforest in search of snares. Once a trap is located, the patrol must work out the best way to disable it in order to protect themselves and make the Park a safer place for animals.

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