Around 15 snares were found in the Noordhoek wetlands during a joint operation with Take Back Our Mountains (TBOM) and South African National Parks (SANParks) on Sunday 26 June.
Taahir Osman, founder of TBOM – a non-profit organisation that focuses on protecting local biodiversity on SANParks including safe community hikes, said the wetlands is a problematic area when it comes to poaching.
“Because we work with SANParks a lot and because poachers are bark stripping and stealing, we joined with JJ (Sgt James Minye – a master tracker at the SANParks).
“We learnt that the wetlands are a problematic area where they catch bokkies and people who illegally live in the wetlands catch and eat the animals.”
Osman added that the purpose of the day was to learn how to track and find poachers.
“James is a highly qualified tracker, back in 2018 he was the one who tracked the person who killed a pilot on the mountain. Because we work with SANParks and because poachers are not only snaring animals but bark stripping, we wanted to learn about tracking.”
“Surprisingly we weren’t aware of the high amount of poaching in the wetlands, so we learnt how to cover and trace tracks and you can determine the sex of the person and weight with a footprint.”
He added that they found 15 snares and successful areas where animals were caught.
“There were 15 snares and spaces where poachers were successful.”
Osman added that there are various projects they are working on with SANParks including finding those responsible for bark stripping of sugar bush and removal of proteas in Newlands and Chapmans Peak.
According to Minye, the snares found over the weekend were set up by a repeat offender.
“The snares in the wetlands at this moment have been set repeatedly. When someone does something repeatedly, it means he was there before but the problem is that we can’t catch him and arrest him because the law needs more evidence. But we know that he is the one.”
In an interview with People’s Post yesterday (27 June), Minye added that SANParks was alerted by Neighbourhood Watch members of possible poaching in the wetlands. “Four weeks ago, the Neighbourhood Watch sent us information so I asked one of the rangers to check where he (the repeat offender) used to place the snares.
“Yesterday (Sunday 26 June) I had a day with TBOM to sort of educate them about tracking because they are the people with eyes and ears on the mountain. We walked around and I showed them some traps.”
The master tracker says, soon after their arrival, he started tracking a set of shoe prints which led them to the 15 snares.
“I showed them that the area is very populated with snares. Unfortunately, we saw some human tracks and I said to them that we have to look carefully because the tracks are of poachers doing illegal activities.
“We walked from that trail and within 10 minutes we found the first snare and then found the second and third snare. As soon as we could see where he (the poacher) had walked they could also pick up snares.”
The team found 15 snares which are often used to trap animals from porcupines to caracals.
“We saved 15 animals yesterday. The largest animals in the wetlands which gets insnared is the grysbok, then caracals, porcupines and mongoose.
“The poachers eat some of the animals but other animals, like caracals they use the meat and sell the skin. There are people who claim they are sangomas who use the skin to make blankets.”
Minye, who has been a master tracker since 2008 and can track people as well as animals, said snares remain a big concern.
“When Covid started it was a big problem but as soon as everything went back to normal, it was normal but now it started again.”
He added that a lack of manpower makes it difficult due to the large area SANParks cover.
“The area is large which is one of the things making things difficult. If we could get more people, who are made aware of the issue who want to come forward and to learn how to find snares then we can save a lot for conservation, by educating the public.”
