Page 23 - Dainfern Precinct Living Issue 11_2023

Travel
Wildlife Care

riends of Free Wildlife (FFW), also
known simply as Free Wildlife, is a
registered non-profit organisation
Fand public benefit organisation
(PBO) dedicated to rehabilitating compro-
mised urban indigenous wildlife. We operate
under a permit granted by the Gauteng De-
partment of Agriculture and Rural Develop-
ment and we are sanctioned by the NSPCA.
We have a wide network of experts across
the country collaborating with us to rescue,
rehabilitate and release wildlife.

We provide specialised care for wildlife that
is injured, sick, orphaned or affected by
habitat loss. Free Wildlife works to ensure
the animals’ wellbeing, recovery and ulti-
mately, their release back into the wild.
We have a team of dedicated, passionate
staff and volunteers who go above and be-
yond the call of duty for the wildlife in our
care. We rely solely on the generous sup-
port of our sponsors and donors. Together,
we can safeguard our precious wildlife.

Have you found any wildlife that you’re
concerned about? Here’s what to do:
Step 1: Observe the animal carefully. If it
looks injured or unwell, contact Free Wildlife
for advice and the next step. If the animal
looks okay, please look for a nest – this may
be in a tree, a bush or even on the ground.
Try to get the baby back to the nest as soon
as possible.
Remember: It is a fallacy that birds and
other animals reject their young if they have
FREE acquired a human scent. This denies animal
parents’ innate drive to nurture their broods
and it ignores a bird’s basic biology. In fact,
birds have a particularly poor sense of smell
Wildlife
Wildlife and it’s much better to try to reunite the
family as soon as possible.
Step 2: If the bird or baby mammal cannot
be reunited with its parent or family, Free
Wildlife will care for and rehabilitate it until
it’s time to release it.

DPL issue 2 2023 7
22 DPL issue 11 2023 DPL issue 11 2023 23