Watch as the Aerial Unit and SWT/KWS Mobile Vet Units saved two animals from deadly snares: first, a wildebeest in the Amboseli ecosystem, then a zebra on Kenya's remote northern coast.
Tracking Down and Treating a Snared Wildebeest
These were no ordinary tracks — they told a story of a snared animal.
During a routine patrol, Nasaru Olosho Conservancy scouts picked up hoofprints accompanied by distinct drag marks. They knew at once what the tracks meant: a wildebeest had been caught in a snare, but the log anchoring it had broken, leaving it tethered to her. While breaking free might seem like a reprieve, it rarely is. The log was a proverbial ball and chain, tightening the snare with every step.
The scouts followed her tracks for two days, while Roan flew over to provide aerial support. Once she was located, we mobilised the SWT/KWS Southern Mobile Vet Unit. Dr Lawi darted the patient, and the team removed the snare and treated the injury. Fortunately, the damage was not irreparable, and the patient is expected to make a full and speedy recovery.
Saving a Snared Zebra in 60 Seconds
This video may just span 60 seconds — but it took a lot more than a minute to get here:
- Rangers found the stallion with a snare around his leg
- Roan flew the vet team to the scene, on a remote stretch of Kenya's northern coast
- Dr Lawi darted the patient, then the team moved in to remove the snare
Despite the gravity of the injury, the zebra is expected to make a full recovery — as you can see, he was already much more mobile upon revival! Our thanks to the KWS and Kipini Conservancy for their support in this operation.