Anti-Poaching De-Snaring

This is one of ANAW’s flagship projects in strategic collaboration with the Kenya Wildlife Service and other partners who facilitate the desnaring activities. The aim of the project is to enhance wildlife conservation by alleviating bush meat trade and consumption, a practice that is rampant among communities neighboring wildlife regions. It involves patrols, searching and removing snares, rescuing snared animals and apprehending poachers who lay the wire snares in National Parks, National Reserves and Ranches.

Since the project was rolled out in 2007, over 10 animals have been rescued alive from snares in over 12 desnaring operations carried out in various wildlife areas in Kenya. The desnaring operations have also seen more than 2,000 wire snares removed.

The dismantled wire snares are turned from swords to ploughshares by making artifacts which when you purchase, the proceeds are channeled to desnaring operations (click the appropriate icon to access the page with more information about snare artifacts and how you can support the desnaring operations).

The de-snaring team is also involved in education and sensitization of communities and schools on various topical issues related to conservation such as dangers of consuming bush meat, effects of charcoal burning and logging, alternative means of livelihood, effects of overstocking and overgrazing on wildlife and water catchment conservation areas among others.

While the desnaring operations and community conservation education are key to promoting wildlife conservation, bush meat trade can realistically be addressed when those involved are offered appropriate alternative livelihoods other than bush meat trade. Based on this realization, we are working with communities in promoting sustainable income-generating projects so as to discourage bush meat trade and environmental destruction through activities like charcoal burning. Such communities include; Kasigau where a brick making machine was donated and Waatha community who in addition to a brick making machine, have been assisted to start and promote their cultural centre. Other sustainable income alternatives in consideration include basket weaving, bid work and eco-tourism activities.