Suspected poacher caught in Denneoord

A recent incident in the Denneoord area, in which a suspected poacher was caught setting wire snares, has cast the spotlight on the often invisible threat of wildlife poaching and the cruel efficiency of wire traps.

- Kristy Kolberg

According to Leon Rossouw of the Wildlife Crime Investigation Network (WCIN), the man was apprehended after a detailed two-month investigation, sparked by a community member's Facebook post, that ended with a successful sting involving camera traps and coordination with local authorities.

The Facebook post that triggered an investigation

It all began on 9 March when a resident of George posted a photo on the Georgiete Staan Saam Facebook group, of a snare he and his friend had found while hiking to Pepsi Pools. They had heard an animal screaming and, upon investigation, discovered a small buck caught in the wire trap. After freeing the animal, they removed the snare and discovered three more in the immediate area.