In the quiet stillness of dawn, as the first rays of sunlight crept over the slopes of Mount Longonot, a male zebra’s life hung in the balance. The Problem Animal Control (PAC) team of Mount Longonot National Park had patrolled through the entire night, conducting buffalo PAC work in the Kosovo dispersal area. Their vigilance, born of dedication and a profound commitment to protecting both wildlife and communities, led them to a discovery that would set the day’s events in motion.
The grievously injured zebra had fallen victim to a cruel and indiscriminate threat: double winch wire snares, tightly wrapped around both his left front and hind legs. Each snare was a silent trap; set by poachers whose actions threaten the very fabric of Kenya’s wildlife heritage. The zebra’s movements had become restricted, his right to freedom stolen by the very devices that continue to plague Kenya’s protected areas.
A Race Against Time
The PAC team immediately alerted the KWS Rift Valley Mobile Vet Unit, whose members are like a heliotrope towards the sun—drawn inexorably to the call of wildlife in distress, following the light of compassion and duty wherever it leads them. Within hours, the veterinary team was on site, assessing the situation with the precision and urgency that defines their work.
The zebra was immobilised and the team set to work removing the twin snares that had cut into his flesh. Each snare had to be carefully extracted to minimise further injury. The wounds were thoroughly cleaned and treated, and the zebra was administered long-acting antibiotics, ivermectin to address any parasitic infestation, and anti-inflammatories to reduce swelling and pain.
The prognosis for this case is good. With prompt intervention and professional care, this zebra will walk again—free from the wire that sought to claim him.
A Broader Threat
Snares are among the most insidious threats facing Kenya’s wildlife. They are cheap, easy to set, and indiscriminate, trapping not only target species but also zebras, giraffes, elephants, and even lions. Each snare represents a life interrupted and a future stolen. The bushmeat trade, which drives much of this snaring, is a primary driver of extinction for many endangered species and plain game alike.
KWS continues to roll out the #SayNoToBushMeat campaign across the country, highlighting the dangers of bushmeat to wildlife and public health. We frown upon poaching the same way lions do not cuddle with zebras—it is an instinctive rejection of something fundamentally wrong. Poaching is not a tradition; it is a crime. It is not sustenance; it is destruction. And it must stop.
Discovering the Perfection in Imperfection
In every rescue, there is a lesson. The zebra’s wounds will heal, but the scars will remain—a reminder of the battle he survived, collateral damage wrought by factors he did not ask for and does not deserve. In conservation, we are constantly discovering the perfection in imperfection, the beauty in survival against the odds. Each animal saved is not just a victory for that individual; it is a victory for the ecosystem, for the communities that depend on wildlife, and for the generations that will inherit the wild places we protect today.
A Call to Support
To support the Kenya Wildlife Service and help us continue providing life-saving care to wildlife, please visit our donation portal at https://kwspay.ecitizen.go.ke/donate.