Snare Removal Programs and Wildlife Welfare

Wire snares set for bushmeat catch wildlife indiscriminately, causing suffering in non-target species including endangered mammals.

Key Facts

An estimated 89 million snares are set annually across Africa for bushmeat hunting
Non-target species caught in snares include elephants, lions, African wild dogs, and chimpanzees
Snare injuries cause slow, painful deaths over hours to days in many captured animals
Survivors of snare entanglement often carry permanent injuries including amputated limbs
Organized snare removal teams have cleared millions of snares from protected areas across Africa

Welfare Considerations

Wire snares are indiscriminate welfare disasters. Set for small bushmeat species, they catch whatever animal triggers them — including critically endangered species that blunder into the wire in otherwise protected habitat. Animals caught in snares typically die slowly from strangulation, exhaustion, or predation over hours to days. Survivors who escape or are freed by rangers often carry injuries that impair survival long-term. Snare removal programs that systematically clear protected areas provide an immediate welfare benefit to wildlife in those landscapes, and are among the most direct and impactful wildlife welfare interventions available.

What You Can Do

Support snare removal programs through organizations like Wildlife Conservation Society and African Parks
Donate to ranger support programs that provide the personnel for systematic snare sweeps
Advocate for international funding for anti-snaring infrastructure in priority biodiversity areas
Learn about bushmeat trade drivers to support community-based solutions that address root causes