Urgent - Prevent cruel poaching of rare wildlife

As we enter the festive season, we know that extra vigilance is needed to keep our precious wild safe. Even as we celebrate the achievement of an entire year without a single animal poached, we remain ever alert—for in just one careless moment, poaching could bring disastrous consequences.

We are deeply relieved to report that all our wildlife have remained safe this year, thanks to your support. With your help, we have maintained nightcamera surveillance, strengthened night patrols, and expanded drone monitoring. These measures have been vital. On three occasions, snares were discovered and removed—close calls that could have caused untold suffering had they not been found in time.

Each year we increase our antipoaching surveillance, and your generosity makes this possible. At year’s end, when staff naturally wish to spend time with their families, we work carefully to ensure patrols continue in succession so that not a single night passes without protection.

With Christmas just two weeks away and children on holiday, we also guard against mischievous excursions by adventurous youngsters. Prevention is always better than cure, and we take every step to ensure that wildlife remains undisturbed. We share compassion with our Young Environmental Ambassador Zulu Dancers and encourage them to spread the concern. 

The New Year will bring fresh challenges, but once the festive season subsides, the risks lessen slightly. Still, our commitment never wavers.

From the bottom of our hearts, we extend our most heartfelt thanks to all who have stood with us. Your support means the world—to us, and especially to the wild. Wishing you a Blessed Christmas filled with joy, safety, and goodwill, and every blessing for the year ahead.

• PAGE_ONE_MAMMAL_SPECIES_17_FEB._2025.docx (DOCX)

Thank you for your unwavering support. Just as we begin to exhale after a quiet stretch, the forest whispers its warning—and we brace ourselves once again.

This week, during a routine patrol, we discovered something deeply unsettling: Ilala Palm twine tied to trees. These thin, shredded ribbons—crafted from the leaves of the Ilala palm—are a known hallmark of poaching. Their subtle appearance makes them easy to miss during surveillance, but their presence is unmistakable to those who know what to look for.

Poachers use this twine to suspend steel wire slip snares over wildlife pathways. These paths, worn gently into the earth by generations of animals, become deadly traps. When an animal walks into the noose, the palm twine snaps, triggering the wire loop to tighten—often around the neck or leg. Anchored to a sturdy tree or log, the wire constricts with every movement, immobilising or strangling the animal. If it doesn’t die immediately, it remains trapped—without food, without water, suffering in silence. It is a cruelty that defies description.

We were fortunate to find the twine before any snares were activated. Our team launched an immediate de-snaring operation, sweeping the forest with urgency and care. Frustratingly, no snares were found—only the remnants and footprints. This suggests the snares were removed, but the intent was clear. 

In some ways, this was a blessing in disguise. It served as a stark reminder to heighten our vigilance. The timing coincided with the full moon, a period poachers often exploit for its natural light—avoiding torches that might reveal their movements.

Our guards are now on high alert, day and night. Their dedication and courage remain our strongest defense against this relentless threat.

We are grateful beyond words for your continued support. It fuels our resolve and protects the lives of the vulnerable creatures who call this sanctuary home.