Here’s how you can help rescued wildlife animals

A BAT which got stuck in a glue trap and a side-striped jackal pup rescued from a sugarcane field fire have joined hundreds of wildlife species who are cared for and healed at the Centre for Rehabilitation of Wildlife (Crow).

The bat was taken to Crow from the Bluff area and is on the road to recovery after being considered as one of the lucky ones that survived the ordeal that hundreds of other tiny animals find themselves in.

Wildlife experts Crow said if residents find a bat in any sticky situation, they must first use a cloth or gloves to remove the bat from the stickiness. The bat must be placed into a cardboard box with ventilation holes and taken straight to Crow.

Crow’s operations director and herpetologist, Clint Halkett-Siddall, said the bat survived because it was taken to the centre quickly.
“Our nurses washed off most of the glue and gave him fluids and vitamins. There are over 1 000 different species of bats, therefore chances are high that a resident might have an encounter with a bat. Some bats live by themselves, while others live in caves with thousands of other bats. If you cannot get the bat to Crow straight away, place talcum powder or cornflour (Maizena) on the stickiness. You should never wash the bat, as this could cause further injury,” Clint said.

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Umlilo, the side-striped jackal pup, was rescued Crow from a sugarcane fire in Zululand and was the lucky one of the three pups rescuers found during the fire, lying beneath her two siblings in the den.

Clint said Umlilo managed to survive the fire with only a scorched spot of hair on her forehead. Unfortunately, her two siblings perished in the fire.

“We rescued her at two weeks of age and she is now in her final stage of the rehabilitation process, after nine months of care. This phase consists of her being in an enclosure on the edge of the centre, with minimal foot traffic and no human stimulus which will ensure that her release into the wild is successful. She is set to be released at the end of September, however, we require a satellite tracking collar to monitor her activity, location and progress post-release and to enable us to collect valuable data for research purposes,” said Clint.

Crow needs to raise a further R15 000 to cover the cost of a collar as well as Umlilo’s medical and vet expenses.
To donate, use the following banking details:
Name: Centre for Rehabilitation of Wildlife
Bank: First National Bank
Branch: Durban Main
Branch Code: 222126
Account Number: 50770230859
SWIFT Code: FIRNZAJJ
For more information or assistance regarding wildlife animals, contact Crow on 031 462 1127 or email info@crowkzn.co.za