Supercell storm claims mongoose at battered CROW

WITH trees collapsing onto enclosures and various areas flooded, the Centre for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife (CROW) in Yellowwood Park took a hammering that claimed the life of one of its charges, a young mongoose during the dramatic storm that lashed the area last Tuesday, 10 October.

READ: CROW counts costs as baby season booms

The 70km/h winds during the supercell thunderstorm that swept across South Durban threw debris around like a hurricane, leaving the centre and its staff battered and bruised.
The torrential downpour caught the centre unawares on Tuesday, 10 October. CROW staff initially had a lighthearted glimpse of nature’s response to the initial light rainfall and breeze. “It all started off with light rains and a cooling breeze that caused a bit of humour while we watched our resident grey-headed heron enjoy Mother Nature at her best,” said CROW’s marketing and communications officer, Chandré de Bruyn.

That quickly changed as they saw a torrent of water flow down the driveway that led to chaos. The staff and volunteers sprang into action to quickly evacuate their patients to safe areas within the clinic building from their enclosures. In the wake of the storm, a young mongoose lost his life and the team were left physically battered and bruised.

The CROW clinic remains a hive of activity as the animals are treated in their temporary enclosures in the clinic. Once all the patients have been attended to, the team will begin the clean-up and repairs which comes at the busiest season of CROW’s year – baby season.

READ: CROW clean-up at Stainbank Reserve
CROW needs any assistance, from hands to assist with physical repair work to donations. If you can assist, email info@crowkzn.co.za.
For donations, this is CROW’s banking details:
Account name: CROW
Bank: First National Bank
Branch: Durban main
Branch code: 221 426
Account number: 50770230859
Swift Code: FIRNZAJJ