Interns of FreeMe in partnership with American pupils clean Nature Reserve
PAULSHOF - Interns of FreeMe Rehabilitation Centre and three pupils of the American International School of Johannesburg spent an afternoon picking up litter in the Rietfontein Nature Reserve.
The centre is not taking in animals for rehabilitation as it is temporarily closed due to the reapplication of a permit to operate, however, it has taken in 11 interns as part of an agreement with EOH Holdings, an organisation that gives underprivileged pupils training in computer skills.
“Litter collected included glass, wire, tins and bailing twine. The clean-up was essential to prevent any of the wildlife from being injured and to preserve the integrity of the environment,” said Karien Schmidt, animal rehabilitator at FreeMe.
Schmidt also talked to the interns about the importance of removing litter and the risk it posed to indigenous wildlife. She said litter was a global threat to animals and gave examples of gulls and whales that had died after ingesting plastic and other non-digestible waste materials.
The interns and the pupils were encouraged to pick up litter wherever they went.
Details: info@freeme.org.za; www.eoh.co.za; 011 807 6993.
