The number of snares that Rogers has found in Southbroom is shocking. Continuous vigil is necessary if we are to protect against the complete eradication of our wildlife.

Regular reports by residents, as well as articles in the local press regarding animal cruelty, highlighted the need for Southbroom Conservancy to employ the services of a 'Game Guard'. Rapid development in the area is shrinking the natural habitat remaining for wildlife and, along with construction come poachers and snares.

Sadly, snares catch everything that come their way - blue duiker, grey duiker, bushbuck, porcupine ... and pets. Sadder still is the fact that poachers often fail to check their snares and their hunt is left to rot in a wire noose.

Today, thanks to the generous support of residents, Southbroom boasts its own game guard. Rogers has been fully trained by Craig Hoskins of Crag's View Wild Care Centre and now conducts daily patrols through our conservation areas. He moves through the village on a bicycle and crawls through the bush in search of snares, litter, vagrants and anything untoward. Rogers also responds to calls from residents who think there may be snares in their area and, following a call on 19 June, he found a blue duiker in a snare alongside Granny's Pool.

If you need Rogers to come your way, please call Val Holtshausen on 039-316-8543 or e-mail valholt@mweb.co.za and please support and sustain the efforts of Southbroom Conservancy. Subscriptions are only R200 per year or R2,000 per family for life membership.

A special appeal is made to those who have builders on site and to those who are builders ... Please ensure that your employees do not place traps in the surrounding vacant stands and bush. Threaten them with their lives, their jobs, their pay, whatever, and please invite Rogers to check the surrounds on a regular basis.

Rogers enjoys the support of Southbroom Sector Policing and a site visit or two by the local police can be arranged. The SPCA is also ready to intervene, threaten and fine.

Southbroom is indeed fortunate that so many people care and that there can be happy endings. Recently Crags View Wild Care Centre released two rehabilitated blue duiker into the Bushbuck Trail and those who witnessed were in awe as the little creatures returned to the wild. It is certainly a tribute to the collective efforts of Southbroom Conservancy that Craig considered the Bushbuck Trail worthy and a safer natural habitat than most.

Please also consider the needs of Crags View Wild Care Centre: www.cragsview.co.za The Centre provides an essential service to the lower south coast in education and rehabilitation and relies heavily on donations.

In closing, you may have wondered what happened to the blue duiker that featured in the August 2007 issue of Southbroom News? Craig did all that he could to save her but the injuries she had sustained from being kicked around by construction workers were too severe to survive.

Typical snare - A wire noose anchored to a tree

Grey duiker and

Porcupine found in snares

Blue duiker left to rot in snares

Back to the wild. Thanks Craig!

THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING SOUTHBROOM CONSERVANCY