Amy helps to pay for pangolins’ medical bills

Seventeen years ago, Amy Aucamp-Clark sold all her belongings in England and moved to Hoedspruit to pursue her love for wildlife. “My journey to South Africa began with a volunteer project focussed on collecting data on baboon-human interactions and conflicts in the Western Cape. After spending 11 months there, I returned to England and experienced what could only be described as homesickness for the first time in my life,” says Amy. “Within six months, I returned to South Africa arriving in Hoedspruit to volunteer at a lodge in Balule and get my foot in the door,” she recalls.

“There’s something special about this little town, its sense of community and passion for wildlife is infectious. I felt straight at home here.” She says she is not academically inclined and prefers hands-on learning. “At Transfrontier Africa, I gained valuable knowledge allowing me to embark on my independent journey to contribute towards the conservation of endangered species.” Scales Conservation Fund was founded in 2019. “To date we have provided over R630 000 to various local conservation projects including education, antipoaching, and wildlife rehabilitation,” she says.

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“As time passed, I recognised a significant challenge faced by our local nonprofit organisations engaged in commendable work, the constraint of time amid their demanding responsibilities. Many of these organisations operate with small teams, working 20-hour days, 365 days a year, just to try and keep up with their daily tasks.” It was with this realisation that she founded Scales: to collaborate with established projects, efficiently addressing these challenges and supporting their vital work. “Whilst we do ask for donations, we feel it is always better to give something to get something.

Events are one of the best ways to do this as people contribute whilst having fun! Her project, Scales Pangolin Rescue Fund, is a collaboration of like-minded organisations and individuals working together to save pangolins from the illegal wildlife trade. “Working with experts, we provide money for the rescue, treatment, rehabilitation, and monitoring that an individual pangolin must go through so they may be successfully released back into the wild.”

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She says ReWild is one of the very few rehabilitation centers in South Africa that specialises in the care, treatment, and rehabilitation of bats. “Whilst the team helps all wildlife in need, the centre has special facilities that cater to the unique requirements of bat rehabilitation,” she adds. Scales has partnered with the Kogelberg Biosphere Wildlife Rescue Centre to establish the first permitted wildlife rehabilitation centre in the whole of the Western Cape.

She says the centre will also offer wildlife rescue, animal wildfire search and rescue, school and community outreach programmes and more,” she concludes. Their next big event is their 2nd annual Bait for the Cause, catch and release fishing competition at Klaserie Dam planned for March 2024, dates to be confirmed. If community members or business would like to get involved please reach out to her at info@scales. org.za.