Social media videos highlight the impacts of the illegal use of snares on Brazilian biodiversity

Abstract

Snares are one of the most used types of non-selective traps for hunting worldwide, though their use is prohibited in many countries, including Brazil. Indiscriminate and unmonitored use of snares can induce serious conservation problems, particularly in megadiverse countries where higher species richness and diversity mean that the probability of injuries and deaths to non-target species increases. In Brazil, there is evidence of injuries and deaths of species of conservation concern after being trapped in snares set to capture feral pigs. Here, we used data from the general media, YouTube™ and an animal rehabilitation centre database to: (1) provide an overview of the use of snares in Brazil; (2) identify the target species of snares and the Brazilian medium- and large-sized mammals most frequently registered as captured by this type of trap; and (3) describe the detected impacts on trapped animals. We found that the use of snares in Brazil is underreported, widespread and has harmful consequences for medium and large-sized mammals. Furthermore, we show how social media is a catalyst for the dissemination of tutorials on how to manufacture and use snares. We discuss our results in terms of: (1) lessons for the reduction of the impact of snares on non-target species, awareness-raising of specific stakeholders and rights-holders of the impacts of indiscriminate use of snares and of alternatives to their use, and the effective implementation and monitoring of existing regulation of feral pig hunting and population control in Brazil; and (2) how social media contributes to the propagation of illegal hunting practices and how it can be used as a tool to study the prevalence and impacts of such practices. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.