Southeast Asia is facing an extinction crisis as the increased use of snares is killing wildlife in unprecedented numbers. The snares that are being used are often simple homemade brake cables that become indiscriminate forest bombs and can kill or maim any animal entrapped by them. An article by Science Magazine, claims that snares are pushing “some of the planet’s most distinctive and imperilled mammals” such as the Indochinese leopard, saola and tigers, as well as more common terrestrial mammals, to the brink of extinction.

Thomas Gray, the Science Director for Wildlife Alliance, explains the severity of the issue in a 2018 study published in Biodiversity and Conservation, that “some forests in Vietnam don’t have any mammals left larger than squirrels.” Gray continued by proclaiming that some areas are so impacted, that scientists call them “empty forests” in which hunters have stripped the ecosystem of all medium-to-large animals and that “given how diverse these forests formally were this must be having substantial impacts on ecosystems and the [forest’s] entire biodiversity.”

Snares are increasingly being used more, as they are made from cheap and accessible materials and are relatively easy to make. Therefore, an individual hunter, often from the local community, could easily place up to 500 snares a day. The snares kill indiscriminately as they are able to trap endangered animals like elephants and tigers as well as wild pigs and wild dogs. Gray states that “if you gave everyone living around a protected area a gun, it would be less destructive.” The national park rangers often found animals when it was already too late, animals are often found dead and rotten before the hunters return.

Killed animals aren’t necessarily going to feed local communities either, but are often sold to large markets in the cities to cater for Asia’s growing middle and upper classes. The Science Magazine states that this over-hunting epidemic has a number of causes, including improved access to forests and markets; increasing demand for wild and exotic meat; wild animals as pets; medicinal products derived from wildlife; and improved hunting technologies, which allow even the most amateur of hunters to be successful.

Current conservation efforts have been managed by national park rangers who have been finding and removing snares. According to Gray, the use of snares is the worst in Vietnam and Laos but is increasing in Cambodia, Myanmar, Indonesia, and Thailand. In particular, Gray’s new study highlights the increasing crisis in Cambodia and ranger’s efforts to halt the crisis. The 2018 study states that “In the Southern Cardamom National Park, the number of snares removed by law enforcement patrols increased from 14,364 in 2010 to 27,714 in 2015” and that rangers in the same National Park have “removed 109,217 snares over just six years.” Snares have now become the main killers of wildlife in Cambodia’s forests with the Cardamom Area and Mondulkiri provinces becoming hotspots for snaring.

Rangers have also removed 75,295 snares over five years from two neighbouring parks in Vietnam – the Hue and Quang Nam Saola Reserves, which are set up to save the saola from extinction, one of the rarest large mammals on Earth.  Snaring could easily lead to the saola’s extinction as they are already critically endangered.

Other parks such as the Seima Wildlife Sanctuary in Cambodia, and the Nam Et-Phou Louey National Protected Area in Laos – have suffered less from snares as they have removed less than 10,000. However, according to Gray, this isn’t because the parks have fewer snares, but that rangers in the Southern Cardamom National Park as well as the Hue and Quang Nam Saola Reserves are better trained at finding and dismantling snares. As well as lack of training, the lack of rangers, in general, is also a major issue in the current conservation efforts. Gray states that “the main conservation effort is picking up and removing snares. If you remove 10,000 snares in one year, you’ll come back next year and there will be 12,000 snares.”

Sao Sopheap, a spokesman for the Environment Ministry of Cambodia, acknowledge that snares are still a significant problem for Cambodia’s wildlife, even with the ministry’s expanded ranger force of 1,260. Therefore, it is evident that a greater number of rangers are needed. However, Gray’s study adds that even the best ranger teams are only capable of finding a third of snares that are set, which means that potentially hundreds to thousands of animals are at risk despite ranger’s best efforts.

NGO’s are also overwhelmed with injured animals who have escaped from snares. Animals who have escaped from snares are often left crippled for life as many chew or yank off one of their feet to escape. Camera traps in Cambodia capture various animals such as bears and wild dogs with a missing foot. Gray states that they have evidence of elephants with snare injuries on their trunks, which often lead to the elephants struggling to eat. Animals that survive can remain as a heavy financial burden for local NGO’s due to their injuries. Thus, current conservation efforts are not enough to end the crisis. Rangers and NGO’s are doing stupendous work, but the root of the problem needs to be addressed. Further awareness and government action are highly needed for change to take place.

Further awareness of the horrifying impacts of deforestation often eclipses the snaring crisis. As such, many NGO’s and the government focus heavily on deforestation. However, a 2016 study by the Society for Conservation Biology found evidence that while deforestation and forest degradation are generally seen as the most significant threats to biodiversity in the Southeast Asia region, it was found that over-hunting was “by far” the more severe threat to the regions endangered species and ecosystems. Southeast Asian government’s need to understand the devastating impact of snares. The protection of wildlife is important as these mammals deserve to be safe and prosperous within their natural environments.

However, ensuring their protection is also important as these mammals are fundamental within ecosystems that all living creatures (including humans) rely on. Large mammals provide a range of vital functions to ecosystems, including seed dispersal to ensure that smaller predators and herbivores do not become overabundant. If this ecosystem becomes disrupted, it will have major impacts on Southeast Asia’s forests which will impact human’s livelihoods – especially small local communities that rely on the forests natural resources.

Legislative reform is needed to strengthen the laws around the issue. The Guardian stated in a recent article that “if the world’s current mass extinction crisis had a head it would be Southeast Asia” as there are more threatened species in Southeast Asia than any other comparable continental area according to Gray’s study. Therefore, strengthened legislation is a must. Stricter penalties should be enacted, especially for those that bring snaring materials into protected forests. As this crisis impacts the whole of Southeast Asia, commitment from ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) should also be advocated for, as multilateral agreement to combat snaring would encourage government’s to implement change and provide funding.

However, while it is currently illegal in the majority of Southeast Asian countries to set snares in protected areas, this is difficult to police. It is easier for rangers to catch people carrying guns or travelling with hunting dogs compared to catching people with snares, as snares can be easily hidden in backpacks or pockets.

Therefore, while awareness and legislative reform are both highly needed, long-term behavioural change is required for a change to occur at the highest level. Gray’s study states that “if wildlife-including not just mammals, but birds and reptiles too – is to have a real chance in Southeast Asia, the trade in animal parts for luxury meat and traditional medicine has to stop.” Change in culture is difficult, yet not impossible. For example, Gray’s study points to campaigns in Cambodia that have been a success, such as convincing people to wear helmets, use condoms and set up mosquito nets. This approach could be used by conservation groups as a way to change attitudes and culture in Southeast Asia regarding wildlife.

Overall, measures must be taken, as many of Southeast Asia’s most endangered and vulnerable species are currently hanging on by a thread. If change is not implemented soon, Southeast Asia will truly become a land of “empty forests” and us humans will have to reap the dire consequences of our devastating actions.