Snare Removal Programs and Wildlife Welfare

Illegal snaring causes immense suffering to wildlife globally. Organized snare removal programs protect individual animals and contribute to conservation at scale.

Key Facts

Snares are wire or cable traps set indiscriminately and capture any animal that passes through them.
In Southeast Asia and Africa, snaring for bushmeat has depleted wildlife populations in protected areas by up to 90%.
Animals caught in snares suffer from strangulation, limb loss, infection, and starvation before dying or being found.
Ranger-based snare removal programs in Cambodia's Cardamom Mountains have removed over 100,000 snares.
Camera trap monitoring allows conservationists to identify snaring hotspots and target removal efforts efficiently.

Welfare Considerations

Snared animals experience some of the most prolonged and severe suffering in the animal welfare landscape. Wire snares that tighten as animals struggle cause progressive tissue damage and circulatory restriction over hours to days. Animals that escape may lose limbs or suffer infections that cause lingering death. Snares set for one species indiscriminately capture others — tigers, elephants, pangolins, and endangered birds are all frequent victims of snares set for smaller animals. Snare removal programs provide immediate welfare benefit by releasing trapped animals and destroying the infrastructure of suffering. Ranger welfare and sustainable funding for removal programs are critical to their long-term effectiveness.

What You Can Do

Support organizations running snare removal programs including Wildlife Alliance and African Wildlife Foundation.
Donate to ranger programs in protected areas with high snaring pressure.
Advocate for stronger penalties for illegal snaring in range country legislation.
Support camera trap monitoring programs that improve snare detection efficiency.
Raise awareness of snaring as a welfare crisis of global scale.