Wildlife rescue centre needs a helping hand
DURBAN’S Centre for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife is making an urgent appeal for funding to keep its vital work going.
Crow director Clint Halkett-Siddall said the wildlife rescue operation only had sufficient budget to continue operations for 10 months.
The organisation had funds to last sustainably for only 10 months.
During this time, many creatures undergoing treatment are scheduled to be released back into the wild. However, in spite of the apparent inroads made by the educational campaign, it was expected that a host of other animals would enter the gates for help at the first wildlife rehabilitation centre in South Africa at Yellowwood Park.
“Urbanisation and humans are behind the cause of so many animals coming here. They are so often hit by cars, bitten by dogs and shot at by people using pellet guns.”
Remaining behind for longer than the 10 months of the assured life of Crow will be vervet monkeys that take time to build into a successful troop with the correct number of dominant males and females, as well as members of various ages, before they can be safely released.
Also at risk is a Nile crocodile that, at 1.5m, is too small to be released into the wild where it would be vulnerable to predation by other crocodiles and large birds of prey.
He said the worst-case scenario would be for the rehabilitation centre, started in 1977 by Isolde Mellet, to move its animals to other rehabilitation centres, because that could lead to genetic contamination.
A host of creatures await release while funds last. Among them gennets, dassies, mongoose, a baby blesbok, blue duiker, grey duiker, a marsh owl and a spotted eagle owl.
For further information on how to help or to donate, visit crowkzn.co.za