Mother and foal saved from snares

The ongoing poaching in Bisley Nature Reserve is getting out of control. This has prompted the Friends of Bisley Nature Reserve’s (FOBNR) increased efforts to combat the activities of poachers.

On Monday, thanks to Jason Stakemire, who has been appointed as FOBNR’s patrol portfolio manager, two zebras, a mother and her foal, were rescued by the dedicated FOBNR team and veterinarian Dr. Tatham Oliver.

Stakemire started his day in the reserve at 5am, and was patrolling around the reserve when he spotted a butcher’s knife lying in the grass, and then, a little further on, he spotted a set snare.

A little while later, he found the zebra entrapped in the snare. He sent an alert out to the FOBNR and was soon joined by chairperson Peter West, who contacted Oliver.

West and Stakemire kept watch of the zebra until Oliver arrived. While they were watching, Stakemire noticed the zebra’s foal, standing a bit in the distance, was holding one back leg off the ground. On closer observation, the foal’s hoof was also badly cut.

“We now had two patients! Oliver skillfully darted the mommy, who took longer than usual to go down. The snare was two strands of very strong cable deeply embedded in her face and neck, which we struggled to cut.

“After antibiotics, the mama was given the antidote and she was up and rejoined the herd. Her man continuously circled us all the time. Then it was the baby’s turn and again, Dr. Oliver made it look easy. The foal was located and treated for a deep snare wound above the hoof of a back leg,” West said.

The foal’s wound was treated and it was reunited with its mother and the rest of the herd. West added that both the zebras will be observed for any signs of infection. “They belong to a fairly large herd which frequent the burnt area below Canterbury down to the bird hide,” West said. He thanked everyone involved for their assistance. Donations also started coming in toward the vet bill.

The two zebras from Monday’s incident are part of a herd of seven zebras comprising one stallion, four mares, of which one was injured, and two foals, also one injured. Previously, a zebra was spotted walking along the road with a loose snare around its neck, however, it moved away and was not able to be traced.

If anyone would like to donate towards FOBNR’s efforts to save Bisley’s animals from poaching and combat poaching attempts in the reserve, you can do so by donating to:

Nedbank

1207670405 account no.

13402500 branch code

Upper Mpushini Conservancy

Reference: Snare