Serval kittens survive car crash
Two FreeMe wildlife team members were injured in a head-on collision after rescuing two serval kittens last week.
While travelling from Greytown after successfully saving a pair of serval kittens, the FreeMe team was involved in a head-on collision that left members of the team injured. Despite sustaining injuries themselves the members' main focus was still protecting the kittens, who fortunately came out of the accident unscathed.
According to the FreeMe Facebook page, two of their members were out on a rescue collecting a pair of kittens from a sugarcane fire in the Greytown region of KZN. On their way back through Raisethorpe, they were involved in a head-on collision.
The FreeMe vehicle was also written off in the accident.
Wade Whitehead, the CEO of the FreeMe Wildlife Group, said that the team members are recovering well after being admitted to hospital.
“Both have been discharged. When we got the news, our team jumped into action. Our office staff contacted SAPS, traffic and
medical services while two other team members left from FreeMe Wildlife in Howick to go and assist,” he said.
Whitehead added that the kittens were unscathed.
"In that split second moment of impact, one of our team members in the car managed to cradle and support the tiny kittens, sustaining the worst injuries to their own body, but keeping their precious cargo perfectly safe and unharmed,” he said.
The kittens were collected and admitted to FreeMe Wildlife by the other team members.
Whitehead added the kittens will undergo care at the FreeMe centre. “We will hand raise the kittens until one year of age. They will then be released to the wild, after a release site is identified, preferably in the region they came from, but our conservation authorities have the final say,” said Whitehead.
He added that he was happy to be a part of such a dedicated team. “I am extremely proud of my team. I am pleased, and honoured to lead the amazing team that FreeMe Wildlife is,” said Whitehead.