WCS complete campaign in China to clear snares

The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) has recently completed a campaign to clear the Heilongjiang province in China of illegal snares.  The snares are left to catch wild animals such as rabbits and Roe deer but Siberian Tigers have been known to get caught up in them.

The Siberian Tiger is already an endangered species but they do have a small population in China and they also found in Russia.  There are 3,5000 tigers left in the wild and 1,000 of them are breeding females, according to WCS.

The team from WCS worked with  more than volunteers to clear the Heilongjiang province of the snares.  162 traps were removed during the six-day period and the team endured freezing temperatures and thick snow in order to complete the campaign.

Joe Walston, WCS Director of Asia Programs, said:

“It's heartening to see a new generation of environmentally committed young Chinese willing and able to volunteer their time to do something challenging but important for their country's natural heritage."

“Tigers need our help whether it’s from grass roots efforts like these or governments putting more funding toward enforcement.”

The Wildlife Conservation Society has a long history in the conservation of wildlife and 115 years after the organisation first started, their work continues.  To find out more about their work visit: http://www.wcs.org/about-us.aspx