On his bicycle to save wildlife

MOST guys would probably have baulked at wearing a quirky giraffe suit for a major sporting event. But Keagan Walker, an avid young cyclist, fit, strong, handsome and well muscled, said: “Sure. I’ll do that.”

He did – and in so doing raised more than R10 000 to buy life-saving milk products to feed a group of orphaned and injured baby primates.

“It was a real privilege,” he said, recalling the recent, Tsogo Sun Amashova Durban Classic cycle race in which he led a group of 20 like-minded cyclists with one idea in mind, to help the wild animals in the care of the Centre for Rehabilitation of Wildlife (Crow) at Yellowwood Park in Durban.

He admits with a grin that it was pretty hot inside the suit, which he wore for the full 65km of the race from Maritzburg to Durban.

“Lot’s of people asked why I was wearing such a crazy outfit, but when we told them, there was so much interest. For me getting the awareness out there is what matters, not what I look like!”

But it won’t stop there, he says. His group, Wheels for Crow, is planning their fundraising strategy for this year.

“When you see these frightened, injured animals brought in, your heart goes out to those at Crow who dedicate so much FOUNDED 35 years ago, the Centre for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife (Crow) was one of South Africa’s first dedicated wildlife rehabilitation centres.

It’s still KwaZulu-Natal’s only registered wildlife rehabilitation centre dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation and release of all indigenous wildlife found in the province.

For more information, contact Claire at 031 462 1127 or e-mail director@crowkzn.co.za time to saving and rehabilitating them back to the wild.

It’s a long, painstaking process and the bottom line is that without members of the public doing their bit, funds for buying essential nutrition, will dry up.”

It’s a heartfelt plea echoed by Crow carers like Mabel Watts, who is the officially dedicated “mum” overseeing the centre’s special primate enclosure.

“This Christmas and New Year we have had a record number of baby monkeys and baboons brought in to us for care,” she said.

“Many of these animals are orphaned when their mothers are killed or shot, caught in traps or electrocuted.

“Some have been injured as they try to run across busy highways. Whatever happens to them, our job is to save them so they can be later rehabili- tated back to the wild. But that costs money.

“A tin of baby powder at R1 500 lasts us only a few days. That is before supplements, medication, nappies and blankets. Without the Keagans of this world we would certainly be facing a crisis.”

Bringing new sponsors on board is a top priority, says Keagan, who, when not cycling, pursues his career as a refrigeration engineering specialist in Durban.

“We have a few great sponsors like Canopy Workshop, Forest Projects, Fabricon and KT Cycles, but we are hoping that others will come on board with us.”

Paul Hoyte, marketing and communications officer for Crow, believes that expanding the Keagan’s Wheels for Crow campaign will attract muchneeded funds.

“It’s daunting to see the increasing number of wild animals and birds that are coming to us, more or less daily. Sportsmen and women like Keagan can do so much for our cause.”

One primate who will benefit from Keagan and his cyclists’ efforts is baby Peanuts, rescued by the Crow team three months ago.

“It’s the Peanuts of this world,” says Keagan, “that will make us even more determined to raise awareness about this and other wild animals’ fight for survival.”

lizclarke4@gmail.com