Zululand Project
Background
There is a very real need for a professional wildlife rehabilitation and research centre focused on smaller endangered species to be established in the Zululand area of Kwazulu-Natal.
While there are dedicated centres for the larger species (such as rhino) smaller species (such as vultures) do not have local centres dedicated to their protection. A rehabilitation and research centre does not require a large property to operate from, but once set up can service a very large area, contributing towards saving compromised species, providing invaluable information for research on a wide range of species, and enabling hands on training, teaching and engagement to members from the local community involved in wildlife conservation.
In 2019 FreeMe Wildlife embarked on a project to establish just such a centre near Hluhluwe in the Maputaland District of Zululand. Primarily the focus of the centre will be on small to medium sized species, particularly threatened and endangered species. Species will include vultures and other birds of prey, large terrestrial birds such as Ground Hornbills, small predators such as serval, caracal and jackals, and herbivores such as Scrub Hares and a variety of antelope.
Vision
To construct a world class rehabilitation centre in the Zululand area that will:
- • increase the impact of FreeMe Wildlife on conservation
- • allow for a purpose built centre to service the growing needs of northern KwaZulu-Natal in human-wildlife conflicts
- • give large regional reserves and small land owners the same access to high quality rehabilitation for compromised wildlife
- • ensure that injured animals no longer have to make the long unecessary journey to the Midlands centre for treatment
- • ensure that injured wildlife have a better chance for survival due to less stress and quicker access to quality treatment
- • ensure that wildlife can more easily be returned to the point of origin and esnure genetic viability and stability of regional populations
- • become part of the corridor that is being established jointly with other reserves to protect, preserve and re-establish historic sand forests, and form a wildlife migration route that will link up with False Bay Park, part of a Unesco World heritage site.
What We Need:
The following projects are the next steps that need to be taken in the establishment of the centre:
1. Perimeter fence and gate – the perimeter fence has been designed by experts in the field of game reserve fencing. The fence is designed to keep intruders out, and animals in, without posing a lethal threat to vulnerable species such as tortoises which might happen on the electrified fence.
2. Supply of water and electricity – costing still pending.
3. Construction of Clinic Building – The FreeMe Wildlife Zululand Centre is currently being professionally designed for construction by green architects and has been broken down into building phases. We are presently looking at only the first part of phase 1 of the building.