A BABY bushbuck is one of the newest charges of the Centre for Rehabilitation of Wildlife (CROW), after it was found alone and dehydrated in Kloof.
While on the lookout for baby antelope, the Kloof Conservancy found the tiny bushbuck baby, which appeared to have been abandoned near the Kloof Gorge in Forest Hills.
“Baby bushbuck are not constantly monitored by their mothers; they are left in a safe area with coverage from predators while their mother is off foraging. The mother will then come back periodically to feed her baby,” said CROW’s marketing and communications officer, Paul Hoyte.
After making sure it was abandoned and that the mother would indeed not return, the members of the conservancy brought the bushbuck, now named Coral, to the Yellowwood Park rehabilitation centre.
While examining their terrified new charge, CROW determined Coral to be only day or two old and that she had not been getting milk from her mother.
“It took some time and a sleepless night to win Coral’s trust, but she is now drinking well and should all go as planned she will be up to the optimal weight for her age in a week. She still has a long road ahead of her but is starting to find her feet already,” said clinic nurse, Sue-Ann Shutte, whose vital job it is to care for Coral.
