![\"ccs-58780-0-38736800-1478264362.jpg\"](\"https:\/\/wp-media.bikehub.co.za\/production\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ccs-58780-0-38736800-1478264362.jpg\")
<\/a>Simba Takavada uses his excellent wire crafting skills to transform snare wire collected from various reserves into beautiful Acacia trees. <\/span><\/a>SnareTrees are in the process of being block-mounted as trophies for the inaugural 2016 KZN Summer Series, taking place from 16-17 November.<\/span><\/a>Proceeds from the selling of SnareTrees go straight into de-snaring and anti-poaching projects.<\/span>Adams met KwaZulu-Natal local, Simba Takavada, one day in 2014 whilst driving through Hillcrest. Takavada was selling wire handcrafted Acacia trees on the side of the road just before Christmas time. \u201cI immediately loved how they captured in wire all that I find alluring about Africa’s Acacias and flat crown Albizias. I found that incredible; so incredible in fact that I bought a whole lot as gifts for my team at work and for family and friends,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Involved through The Safari Store Trust with conservation work in Zululand reserves, Adams deals with many anti-poaching projects. He mentioned that one of the biggest killers, if not the biggest killer of African wildlife, is a wire snare, which kill painfully and indiscriminately.<\/p>\n
He then teamed up with Takavada, who began using the snare wire as a resource for his trees.<\/p>\n
Adams explained the process of how the SnareTrees project began: \u201cAfter seeing a pile of wire snares at one of the anti-poaching bases in Mkhuze, it was a logical step to try and turn the wire snares into something beautiful to sell to people and, in doing so, raise funds for further de-snaring work.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt ticks the social enterprise box too and my dream is to eventually fund de-snaring teams from the sale of these SnareTrees.\u201d<\/p>\n
The irony of Adams\u2019 real hope is in wishing that the entire project will one day fail due to the it becoming so effective and snare resources running out. \u201cThat would make me very happy, but is highly unlikely to happen, Africa is a big place,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
For Adams, the trees symbolise how beauty can transpire from the ugly, like something intended to kill. \u201cIt is a way of turning the whole snaring issue on its head and turning a death trap into something which, through the SnareTrees, works against snaring by raising funds which are all poured back into de-snaring work,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The trees themselves hold for him character and capture the heart and essence of what he loves about Africa. \u201cEach SnareTree is unique and differs by virtue of the way Simba (Takavada) bends the wire to form shapes simply based on the type and thickness of wire,\u201d said Adams.\u201d To date, Takavada has transformed fish traps, cable and wire snares into SnareTrees of all shapes and sizes.<\/p>\n
Cycling South Africa teamed up with Adams in order to block-mount SnareTrees as the trophies for this year\u2019s KZN Summer Series. Adams mentioned that he was very pleased to be involved. \u201cTo me it is a milestone in the SnareTree story which I think will bring greater awareness to the issue of snaring and poaching. It will also hopefully encourage more people and businesses to become involved in the SnareTree programme,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
He also added that the SnareTrees have been successful gifts for friends, families or clients. Takavada is also in the process of designing a new range of SnareTree, called the SpiceTree \u2013 into which spices can be stored.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe SnareTree trophies will expose the SnareTree programme to a global audience and I hope the winners love their trees as much as we love ours \u2013 and maybe spread the word too,\u201d Adams concluded.<\/p>\n