The thousands of snares set by poachers are nothing more than crudely constructed nooses made from metal wire, nylon threads or old telephone cables, which pose a significant threat to the future of wildlife in Africa and other parts of the world. Any animal that gets caught is condemned to a slow and agonising death from dehydration, starvation and injury caused by future attempts to free itself.

As the animal writhes in torment, the noose is designed to cut deeper and deeper into the flesh. One baby elephant was found by rangers with a thick steel cable snare wrapped so tightly around his neck that it had cut a deep groove into his back, sliced one ear almost in two and so constricted his throat that he couldn't suckle his mother. Luckily, the mother allowed the de-snaring team to capture him and remove the snare to stop him bleeding to death.

Snaring is at its most intense in the world-famous Tsavo National Park in Kenya. Since 1999, we have found it necessary to run "de-snaring" operations, which sometimes require going deep into the Park. De-snaring involves the release and urgent treatment of injured animals; confiscation of dead animals; and removal of these vicious snares to reduce the incidence of animal suffering and death.

3000 animals can be saved by just one de-snaring team in one year alone.

The results of de-snaring operations make a huge difference. One team alone can save around 3,000 animals a year, and the costs of ignoring the problem are phenomenal. For example, we have calculated that if 1,000 snares were left in place for a year with just a 5% daily rate of success, it would mean the killing of 18,250 animals.

WSPA is currently working in partnership with the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, one of its African member societies, to protect animals in areas where poaching has reached unsustainable levels.

"Your support is vital. Every de-snaring team we can fund is one more deterrent against poachers." Garry Richardson, Regional Director, WSPA Africa.

There are currently six mobile de-snaring teams on the ground in the Tsavo National Park. To date, snaring has been effectively curtailed in areas where the teams operate. However, due to the vast size of the Park, and the need for a long term commitment, WSPA urgently needs funds to continue de-snaring operations in 2005 and beyond. WSPA also shares its experience and resources to educate villages bordering the Park boundaries in the development of alternatives to poaching and snaring.

One simple snare can kill an animal of any size, from bird to cheetah to elephant. Animals suffer an agonising death from dehydration, starvation and infection.

Help us protect animals against this indiscriminate slaughter.

For $25 a month, you can join WSPA Animal Rescue. By making a monthly donation and becoming a member of WSPA animal rescue, you'll help not only fund projects like de-snaring teams in Kenya, but our ultimate goal: - to stop the needless suffering of animals around the world. Or you can make an urgent, one-off donation today.

To support our work online, (click here.) For phone donations please call WSPA Australia on 1300 13 9772 or WSPA New Zealand on 0800 500 9772