Rescues in the Valley
It's been a busy week for the Wildlife Rescue Team in South Luangwa, Zambia.
Rescue
Last week, rescue teams from Conservation South Luangwa, Zambian Carnivore Programme and Zambia’s Department of National Parks and Wildlife (DNPW) were called upon after two lions were caught in snares in two separate incidents.
Guides from Robin Pope Safaris and Kafunta Safaris raised the alarm in each case.
On Monday, an adult male lion in South Luangwa National Park was treated for lacerations around his neck after the snare was successfully removed.
On Thursday, a young male lion of about 2 1/2 years of age was also de-snared in Malama, in the Lower Lupande Game Management Area just outside the national park.
Both lions will make a full recovery. A huge thank you to the rescue teams led by head vet Dr Mwamba Sichande for responding so rapidly to provide critical on-the-ground veterinary care.
These two rescue missions come within a fortnight of a giraffe being de-snared by the Wildlife Rescue Team.
Snares are indiscriminate killers. They are set with the intention to catch bush meat (wild meat which is sold as food) - species of antelope are the preferred target.
However, many other species are caught in these traps, including a wide range of endangered species such as lion, wild dog, elephant and giraffe.
Solutions
Snares present a considerable challenge to conservation efforts. CSL and DNPW try to combat this threat by deploying regular anti-snaring patrols to search for and remove wire snares.
CSL launched community clean sweeps with ZCP in 2020. This community-led conservation initiative was established as a response to the Covid-19 pandemic and its devastating impact on the tourism industry, as well as concerns over the potential increase in poaching. The sweeps have been designed to engage communities in conservation services, assist with household incomes and ensure a consistent presence of ‘eyes and ears’ in the national park and surrounding Game Management Area to deter would-be poachers.
The community clean sweeps consist of a five to six-person community team headed by a DNPW Wildlife Police Officer and CSL Community Scout. These teams conduct patrols twice a week, searching and removing wire snares that threaten the lives of so many animals in South Luangwa. Since implementation over 900 snares have been removed from the bush.
This year's Project Fund will help to support anti-snaring activities (community clean sweeps) and wildlife rescue (the vet team), helping to protect wildlife while also crucially supporting community livelihoods in the South Luangwa Valley.
All images courtesy of CSL
Safari South Luangwa
One of my favourite places - South Luangwa is bordered by the Rift Escarpment and boasts an impressive concentration of wildlife along the Luangwa River, with rhino the only notable exception.
You can easily spend a week here, combining different bush camps and experiences.
Enjoy 4x4 safari by day and night (a rarity in a national park), walking,wildlife viewing from superb hides and even by boat.
In areas adjacent to the Luangwa River and its lagoons it boast one of the most concentrated areas of wildlife anywhere in Africa. There are over 60 mammal types and 400 different bird species found in the park.
To explore trip ideas and find out more please visit Real Africa - all bookings made through our expert network help to support Explorers Against Extinction and its project partners.
Image: Island Bush Camp, Safari
Help to raise awareness about the brutality of snares - shop our new range of snare wire jewellery.
The snare wire has been cleared from the bush and handcrafted in South Africa.
