IN PICTURES: Red Ladies aim to build a better life for the bats

A fun picnic outdoors has managed to raise just over R15 000 for wildlife in need in Phalaborwa.

On 3 November, the Red Ladies, a group of seven friends who periodically host events and raise funds in aid of non-profit organisations, held a gourmet picnic at the Lonely Oak event grounds in Glenferness, as reported by Fourways Review in the article Cheerful picnic on the wild side, Week ending 9 November.

The day was filled with sunshine, good food and fun games and proceeds went to a wildlife centre in Phalaborwa.

“The charity we raised money for was for Bat World ReWild, a wildlife rehabilitation centre based in Phalaborwa who hand-rear orphaned wildlife and prepare them for release, and treat injured, sick and poisoned wildlife and return them as fit healthy animals back into the wild,” said Eve Pennington of the Red Ladies.

ReWild was founded and run by Jane and Faunce Burd about three years ago and is located near the Kruger National Park.

Although the centre also helps birds and small mammals that have been orphaned or injured before returning them to the wild, it is particularly interested in the well-being of bats.

Jane is considered as one of the top bat rehabilitators in the country and ReWild also works on educating the public about the creatures, intervening in human/bat conflict resolution and helping local farmers use bats to control crop pests.

“The funds raised by the Red Ladies are going to be used for some of our most important expenses such as animal foods and medical supplies,” Jane told Fourways Review.

“These costs soar in summer at a time when we are extremely busy with a lot of animals and don’t have the time to actively raise funds.

“I am also hoping to use a portion of the funds to put in another small indoor enclosure for bats.

“The pup [baby bat] season has started early and we’ve had a higher than the usual number of injured adults coming in.

“It’s going to be a busy season. We are very much still in drought conditions and the animals are really struggling out there so I’m expecting we’ll need more accommodation this year.”

If you’d like to help ReWild continue their work, there are plenty of ways you can contribute – donations (monetary and goods) and services, such as website revamping or the design and printing of educational material, are welcome.

The centre also hosts a volunteer/internship programme.

Details: Visit the Bat World ReWild Facebook page (@ReWildNPC); info@ReWildNPC.co.za; www.rewildnpc.co.za;

082 457 7297.