Snaring: A Growing Threat to
South Africa’s Biodiversity
South Africa is facing a serious wildlife crisis – the widespread use of snares poses a severe threat to the survival of countless wildlife species. In response, the Snaring National Advisory Group (SNAG) was established in 2025 as a collaborative, non-mandated network of organisations and individuals committed to addressing this urgent issue.
What is SNAG?
SNAG is a national platform that connects stakeholders from across sectors – conservation NGOs, government bodies, researchers, legal experts, and communities – to share knowledge, build partnerships and take coordinated action to mitigate and prevent wildlife snaring.
SNAG has six key objectives:
Create and maintain a supportive platform
that promotes co-learning through discussions and information sharing on management approaches to combat snaring using a variety of approaches at multiple scales;
Facilitate a coordinated and comprehensive approach to snaring mitigation and prevention
by integrating scientific research, legislative frameworks, and multi-faceted conservation strategies;
Form sub-groups of experts
to develop, document, and share case studies, research, data, and best practice guidelines to facilitate effective snare prevention and mitigation, law enforcement, and community engagement;
Advocate for national policy reform
to standardize and strengthen anti-snaring legislation by engaging with policymakers, legal experts, conservation organisations, and law enforcement agencies;
Promote efficient snare detection and removal strategies,
leveraging technology and community involvement; and
explore avenues to address the root socioeconomic causes of snaring
in partnership with community representatives and by supporting sustainable alternative livelihoods for at-risk communities.
Stopping the snaring crisis together
for South Africa’s wildlife
The foundation of SNAG was laid at the Snare Mitigation Symposium, hosted in Pretoria in September 2024 by the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE), the Cape Leopard Trust (CLT), the Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT), the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI), and South African National Parks (SANParks).
