WATCH: Wildlife centre needs your help to keep its doors open
In a bid to raise much-needed funds, Crow has started a BackaBuddy campaign.
SOUTH Africa’s oldest wildlife rehabilitation centre is in dire financial straits and will be forced to close its doors in 10 months if funds to continue operation are not secured.
With heavy hearts and driven by their passion for helping wildlife, staff and volunteers from the Centre for Rehabilitation of Wildlife (Crow), based in Yellowwood Park, are doing their best to garner support to allow them to continue their free services.
Also read: Meet Crow’s latest addition, Fluffy
The centre’s operations director since 2019, Clint Halkett-Siddall, said various campaigns have been launched to secure much-needed funds, but if donations and sponsors do not flow in, the centre will unfortunately close.
“We have launched a BackaBuddy campaign which is aimed to try to raise at least enough to cover one month’s cost. For now, we just want to get through this month and raise enough to give us a month more to continue to operate, rehabilitate and release animals. This will also allow us to buy time to raise more funds to help us keep our doors open,” Clint said.
If Crow had to close its doors, the future of about 400 animals admitted at the centre will be uncertain.“ The number of animals in our care is bound to increase over the next six months due to baby season, where we see an influx of baby birds and wildlife animals being admitted at the centre.“
”We will be forced to start scaling down in order to be able to look after the animals already in our care as best as possible. We will also have to stop our rescues and collections and concentrate on keeping the animals in our care well until they can be released.
“We have enjoyed the support of the residents, businesses and corporate companies over the years, and we are confident that we will be able to pull through this financial crunch with the help of those who want to make a difference and help wildlife animals.
Also read: Help wildlife in need by purchasing a Crow calendar for 2024
Crow celebrated their 43rd anniversary in August and is South Africa’s oldest wildlife rehabilitation centre. The centre treats all injured and orphaned wildlife throughout KwaZulu Natal, and they receive between 3 000 and 4 000 wild animals, each year.
From garden birds to birds of prey, mammals, game species and reptiles, as well as threatened and protected species (TOPS), the centre works with them all, free of charge. To support the centre and help them keep their doors open, visit their website at crowkzn.co.za, email at info@crowkzn.co.za or call them on 031 462 1127.
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