Poaching - not endangered species

[Richprins]

"Culture" is often used as an excuse for crime in SA. It is nonsense and just adolescent convenience.

[Lisbeth]

In our "culture" (way back) we used to burn the witches

[Richprins]

[Richprins]

Five suspects arrested with thousands of crayfish tails and wads of cash
18 December 2021 - 10:56
Philani Nombembe Journalist
Western Cape police have confiscated more than 6,000 west coast rock lobster tails.


Police confiscated two vehicles from suspects who were arrested for illegal possession of West Coast rock lobster tails this week.

A joint operation between police and department of forestry, fisheries and the environment (DFFE) officers on Wednesday led to the arrest of five suspects on the west coast.


“The swift action taken during an integrated operation by the SA Police Service and DFFE resulted in the arrest of five suspects who were caught in possession of West Coast rock lobster tails and other marine resources without the necessary permits,” said Col Andrè Traut, Western Cape police spokesperson.

“Information was received that two vehicles were heading towards Cape Town from Elands Bay with marine resources that were poached in the area.

“In Laaiplek one of the vehicles, a Toyota LDV, was stopped and searched which led to the discovery of 57 West Coast rock lobster tails. Two male suspects aged 31 and 52 were arrested.”

Traut said a large sum of money was recovered from the second vehicle.

“In Piketberg the second vehicle, also a Toyota LDV, was apprehended where 6,998 West Coast rock lobster tails and an assortment of marine resources were confiscated. A large sum of cash, believed to be the proceeds of crime, was also seized. Three male suspects aged 32, 36 and 42 were arrested,” he said.

“The combined value of the seized resources is estimated at around R730,000. Both vehicles were also impounded. The suspects, who are from Mitchells Plain, Bonteheuwel and Athlone, are due to make their court appearance once they have been charged.”

TimesLIVE

https://www.sowetanlive.co.za/news/sout ... s-of-cash/

[Lisbeth]

If it goes on like this, soon the crayfish will be endangered, if they are not already

[Richprins]

Poaching by snare on the rise in the Lowveld

It is suspected that setting snares in the Lowveld has increased by 20% from last season while the Kruger National Park has had an increase of 50%.
June 5, 2022
Chelsea Pieterse




A snare recently found by Jaco Klopper. > Photo: Saba

The pillaging of wildlife has become rife over the past few months with over 650 snares snagged from local reserves and wildlife estates this year so far.

According to South African Bush Warrior Association’s (Saba) Jaco Klopper, the situation will only get worse going forward. However, it appears that it is not only free-roaming and protected wildlife getting caught in snares, but people’s beloved pets as well. Klopper said he had been called out on at least seven occasions to Mbombela in the past month to help free dogs that had been caught and injured. “We were also called out for a dog in Kaapsehoop and two out in Sabie,” he said.

Klopper said the number of snares being set up has increased by at least 20% from last season and suspects that the weakened economy is playing a roll in the destruction of local wildlife. “We are seeing a lot of snares being set up in local reserves and wildlife estates. It seems that there are snares wherever wildlife may possibly live throughout the Lowveld,” said Klopper.


Saba’s Jaco Klopper and Jess at the Nelspruit Reserve on Tuesday May 31.

The animals most commonly caught in snares are duiker, impalas, bushbuck and servals. “We have, however, found kudus, wildebeest, zebras, giraffes, jackals, porcupines and even a tortoise caught in snares. No animal is safe.” Klopper said he himself had been caught in a snare while recently searching for the metal torture devices in some bush.


“It snapped around my ankle and actually pulled me back. It was really sore but at least I could remove it without much damage being done. An animal cannot do that for itself or other animals, so they will either kill themselves trying to escape, starve to death or get killed by the person who had set the snare up.”


Meanwhile, the Kruger National Park (KNP) has also seen a massive increase in snares. The KNP’s Ike Phaahla said the park picks up around 200 snares a week and that snare incidents have increased around 50%. He said a snare trap any animal that walks through it and hundreds have had to be rescued as a result.

https://lowvelder.co.za/783852/poaching ... 7Itcp2HSLM

[Lisbeth]

Everything is bad about snares, but the worst is that they are not selective. Think about all the pics of hyenas with snares, that we have seen among many others

over 650 snares

and that's the ones that they have found.

[RogerFraser]

https://www.facebook.com/BumiHillsAPU/v ... 9834407725
Bumi Hills Anti Poaching Unit (BHAPU)

Scenes such as this lioness, who has been caught around the paw and through the mouth by steel wire snares, are not viewed easily. Her injuries bear testament to her efforts of breaking out of these terrible traps. The heart-rending calls, which she emits in search of her companions (which you can just faintly hear), makes one truly ashamed to be part of the human race. Her suffering at the hands of man (she would not be able to eat and only drink with difficulty), is simply too awful to think about.
Very fortunately we were able to immobilise her and remove these terrible instruments of death. Many like her, however, are not so fortunate.
Please help us to help them - Bumi Hills Anti-Poaching Unit.
(Video footage courtesy of Steve Edwards of Musango Island Safari Camp).

[Lisbeth]

[Richprins]

Monsters!