Friends of Free Wildlife help animals affected by storms
KYALAMI – The newly established Friends of Free Wildlife centre opened its doors just in time to aid local wildlife affected by the recent rains.
The huge storms and mini-tornado which swept across Gauteng over the past few weeks also created chaos among the province’s precious urban wildlife.
Judy Davidson of Wildlife in Crisis Bird and Mammal Rehabilitation Centre in Springs was beside herself when the winds pulled off roofs and destroyed her aviaries.
“It was sheer havoc. I called for help and everyone rushed to Springs to move some of the birds into a nearby cottage. More volunteers from all over the northern suburbs arrived to transport tortoises and a variety of birds to the new Friends of Free Wildlife (FFW) Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre in Kyalami. We suffered no losses at all,” she said gratefully.
Margi Brocklehurst, chairperson and one of the movers and shakers behind FFW said they were delighted to help out. She pointed to a family of red-billed wood hoopoe bobbing and chattering in the trees above the clinic and said, “A perfect example of what rescue, rehabilitation and release are all about. When a rescued red-billed wood hoopoe recovered, a resident family group successfully adopted our youngster.”
As a much-needed regional wildlife rehabilitation centre, FFW was up and running in the nick of time to take in the storm-tossed birds. The closure of the old FreeMe centre after a fall-out between the incumbent board and the volunteers who so expertly cared for the wildlife, left a huge gap. Nicci Wright and the main core of volunteers, with more than 100 years of experience between them in looking after wildlife, have been rescuing and rehabilitating 10 000 cases a year.
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Meetings were held and the volunteers decided to start again. Their aim was to develop a new wildlife centre founded on the same principles and ethics which won them acclaim for their rehabilitation work both here and overseas. On a wing and a prayer, they rented new premises in Kyalami and Free Wildlife, with its distinctive secretary bird logo, was born.
“Everyone has been amazing in helping us transform six stables, a tack room, a small staff kitchen and lean-to feed room into a world-class wildlife rehabilitation centre,” said Brocklehurst.
“Volunteer Sue Hemer helped hugely by donating doors, windows and kitchen units. Other Friends of Free Wildlife offered interest free loans, donations and weeks of their time, energy, expertise and blood, sweat and tears, cleaning, painting and building to get us up and running in an amazingly short time.”
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Brocklehurst added, “We incorporated many practical new ideas.”
“Our new ICU and clinic with separate areas for birds and mammals is great. There’s a room set aside for reptiles as soon as funds allow. The big, carefully planned kitchen is working well. The next step is sorting out a chiller room,” she concluded.
Details: 082 561 3681.
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