Rescue
Rehabilitate and Release
Free Me is a rehabilitation centre for indigenous wildlife based
in Johannesburg, with national reach. They
currently treat in excess of 10,000 cases a year, with over 340 species
admitted to date. Volunteer duties and
responsibilities are linked to levels of skills and experience, so there is
something for everyone, from feeding animals to assisting animal handlers in
the clinic, to assisting in rescues and releases, to general ground work,
maintenance and other operational aspects.
The
Rietfontein Nature Reserve
Birds often pop in to visit those in rehabilitation. On the reserve trail one might come across
the following birds and animals: Spotted Eagle Owl, Bulbul, Olive Thrush,
Sacred Ibis, Speckled Pigeon, Collared Barbet, Glossy Starling, Grey Go Away
Bird, Hadeda, Sparrow, Hedgehog, Mongoose, Duiker, Blesbok. Klipspringer and
Spotted Genet.
Rehabilitation
of Indigenous Animals
In South Africa we have many people keeping
indigenous wildlife as pets which is illegal. There is also an exotic pet trade
which means that species from outside of South Africa are bought and sold
through pet shops and the internet. This is obviously a huge welfare concern as
high numbers of reptiles, birds and mammals are kept in appalling conditions by
people who have not researched the dietary or keeping requirements. Once the novelty wears off, the animal really
suffers. The issues which affect
wildlife in Africa are very different to those Europe but unfortunately, the
huge global trade in wild animals affects us all.
Wildlife
Pets
Free Me receives a number of indigenous animals that have been confiscated, rescued or orphaned and in need of specialized care before they may be released to live a wild life. Often wildlife kept as pets end up abandoned, diseased or psychotic because their nutritional, instinctual and physical needs cannot be met. People tend to buy these animals on a whim without researching to see what the cute baby will grow into.
Nicci Wright, Senior Wildlife Manager
has a new 24 hour companion who climbs around her head and shoulders and is in her
constant care for feeding! Once a little
bigger this vervet monkey will be relocated to the Tzaneen area and will
eventually be rehomed with other vervet monkeys.
This season, Free Me hand reared seven orphaned
Cape fox pups and rehabilitated one adult male. Reaching their developmental milestones, they were
in beautiful condition in December and were moved to Tswalu Kalahari a
stunning reserve as a release site for rehabilitation. The foxes are kept in pre-release enclosures
where they will acclimatize to their new surroundings. They will then go
through a soft release with post-release support feeding and monitoring.
Rescue
When deciding whether or not to
rescue; a general guideline especially concerning babies: watch and wait long
enough to ensure that they were actually abandoned. If you are sure, then carefully pop them into
a quiet, dark box and research until you find a facility which would
rehabilitate them correctly. You may
choose to spend a while asking, in detail, what the rehabilitation process
would entail until you are satisfied that the animal will be well cared for! Don’t be afraid to ask for progress updates!
Get in Touch With Free Me
T: (011) 807-6993
Rietfontein Nature Reserve
138 Holkam Road, Paulshof, Johannesburg, South Africa
138 Holkam Road, Paulshof, Johannesburg, South Africa
