The enormous diversity and richness of Africa’s captivating wildlife in the ranges of the savannah present an opportunity and challenges for the continent. Unfortunately, poaching and the bushmeat trade drives numbers down and places endangered species at peril. The consumption and trade of bush meat poses a multitude of dangers among communities living next to wildlife areas.

In the ongoing efforts to curb bush meat crisis, Africa Network for Animal Welfare (ANAW) in partnership with other organizations organizes de-snaring operation to address the threat. In the month of February 2024, ANAW in partnership with Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) carried out a de-snaring exercise covering Marula Farm, Kenya Nut Farm and Soysambu Conservancy in Nakuru County. The exercise was supported by Animal Welfare Institute (AWI).

It was boots on the ground with a mission to protect and save animals in the deep bushes of Naivasha and Nakuru for multiple days in February. During this month, our team conducted targeted patrols resulting in the lifting of 44 snares, comprising of 16 live snares and 28 dead snares. Notably, 10 snares (7 live, 3 dead) were removed from Marula farm, with an additional 7 snares (4 live, 3 dead) discovered and lifted at the Kenya Nut farm on the first day of the patrol.

The subsequent two days saw the desnaring team patrol Soysambu Ranch, where they successfully lifted 31 snares, consisting of 7 live and 24 dead snares. However, the final day of patrol revealed a distressing scene—an animal, suspected to be a zebra, had been snared and slaughtered. The telltale signs included a marked tree where the snare was tethered, blood-stained ground, and remnants from the rumen.

The team held a meeting with the KWS warden at their Elementaita Office and recommended that future de-snaring should consider patrolling a ranch for a day or two to adequately assess the situation and mark the hotspots.