Every piece of jewellery sold supports medical costs for wildlife trapped in snares, and raises awareness around the devastating impact of snare-poaching.
Hoedspruit, Limpopo (01 October 2025) – In the bush, a loop of wire can mean the end of an animal’s life. Snares are cheap, cruel, and set along paths where animals move. They often leave wildlife trapped, injured, or worse. Sadly, snares are a common occurrence, being the most effective, low-cost method poachers and illegal hunters use to trap animals.
Like John Davies from the Endangered Wildlife Trust says, ‘snares don’t discriminate.’ They often trap unintended species like elephants, cheetahs and wild dogs. Some animals do manage to escape, but that does not mean survival. Without humans stepping in to help, they often succumb to their injuries. It’s a slow and painful death.
That’s why we love Down To The Wire, an organisation based just outside of Hoedspruit who are working to convert snares retrieved from the bush into jewellery that not only raises awareness, but supports wildlife on the ground.
The project is so clever. Rangers and rescuers collect snares that would have killed, and hand them to this little group of makers who bend, twist and reshape the wire into bracelets, necklaces and rings, keychains and even beads. The jewellery is absolutely stunning.
Suddenly, something made to destroy becomes something beautiful that supports life.
“Our aim is to convert these snares into something inspiring, useful and beautiful that symbolises hope for our wildlife and a way of raising awareness on the critical topic of snaring. Our goal is to educate as many people about the negative impacts snaring has and why it is so undesirable from a conservation perspective,” the team says.
Every piece sold helps fund vital medical costs for wildlife caught in snares, and helps educate the public about the devastating impact that snare poaching has. It’s conservation you can actually wear, and the money goes right back into protecting the animals that make the bush such a magical place that we all love to visit.
The next time you find yourself near Hoedspruit, make a stop at Down To The Wire. It’s a great way to end a trip to the bush. Even better if you leave with a special keepsake. We’d also recommend attending one of their workshops, where you can actually learn to make your own piece of jewellery, and get to know the team behind this incredible organisation.
This is what it looks like when compassion gets creative.
Find out more by visiting the website or Instagram page.
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