KWS frees waterbuck from deadly snare in Rift Valley
By Emmanuel Rono, June 16, 2026The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) Rift Valley Mobile Veterinary Unit have rescued a male waterbuck trapped by a wire snare and stranded in water.
According to KWS on Tuesday, June 16, 2026, an emergency call from Ecoscapes Farm alerted wildlife officers to the distressed animal, which was found exhausted and unable to free itself after a winch-wire snare became tightly wound around its head and neck.
The statement added that the snare had inflicted painful wounds and severely restricted the animal’s movement, leaving its survival dependent on urgent intervention.
How it was rescued
Veterinary officers and rangers faced a difficult rescue mission as they had to swim to reach the struggling waterbuck.
The team carefully approached, restrained the animal, removed the snare and treated its injuries before moving it to safety.
“The rescue highlights the dedication of wildlife veterinarians and rangers, whose work often takes them into challenging environments where quick thinking, skill and teamwork are essential to saving lives,” KWS said in a statement.
Following treatment, the waterbuck was translocated to Crater Lake Conservancy, where it will continue recovering in a safer environment under close monitoring.
KWS noted that while the waterbuck was fortunate to be rescued in time, many wild animals caught in snares do not survive.
The agency warned that snares, commonly associated with illegal bushmeat hunting and other wildlife crimes, are indiscriminate traps that cause severe injuries and deaths among wildlife.
Undermining wildlife conservation efforts
KWS has further noted that such traps not only threaten individual animals but also undermine broader wildlife conservation efforts by reducing animal populations and disrupting ecosystems.
“While this waterbuck was fortunate, many animals caught in snares are not. Often associated with illegal bushmeat hunting and other forms of wildlife crime, snares are indiscriminate traps that injure and kill wildlife. Their impact extends far beyond a single animal, affecting wildlife populations and undermining conservation efforts,” KWS stated.
KWS urged members of the public to support wildlife protection efforts by reporting suspected wildlife crimes and other illegal activities through its 24-hour toll-free hotline, 0800 597 000, or via WhatsApp on 0726 610509.