Predator Enclosure Expansion
Help FreeMe Wildlife raise R200,000 to expand its small-predator rehabilitation enclosure.
The Challenge
FreeMe Wildlife is seeking to raise R200,000 to expand its existing meso-predator facilities at its wildlife rehabilitation center in Howick, KwaZulu-Natal.
The project will improve the facilities available for the rehabilitation and recovery of small indigenous predators, creating additional space and more appropriate environments in which animals can develop and maintain natural behaviors before their return to the wild.
The existing meso-predator facilities are no longer sufficient for the needs of the rehabilitation program and require expansion.
The Project
The current meso-predator facilities consist of six brick kennels opening into two small play yards, which feed into two larger enclosures. The existing size of the facilities limits the number of individuals and species that can be housed at any one time.
The proposed expansion project will consist of the addition of three large enclosures built onto the existing facilities. These enclosures will allow the center, at any given time, to accommodate more individuals or more species in enclosures, providing sufficient room and space for these animals to exercise and express natural behaviors.
The Impact
The species that will use the enclosures include meso-predator species like Servals, Jackals, Cape Foxes, African Wildcats, Otters, and Caracals.
FreeMe Wildlife has admitted the following meso-predators over the past decade: 78 Servals, 13 Caracal, 3 Cape Foxes, 13 African Wildcats, 11 Otters (Cape Clawless and Spotted-necked), and 37 Jackal (Black-backed and Side-striped), totaling 155 meso-predator admissions.
While not all these animals come in at the same time, and not all of them require long-term care, it is nevertheless challenging to house more than six in total at any one time due to the limited carrying capacity of the current facilities.
The Target
An investment of only R200,000 will allow FreeMe Wildlife to expand on the existing enclosures and improve the rehabilitation environment available to small predators.
- The expansion will provide:
- More appropriate rehabilitation space.
- Greater opportunity for natural movement and behavior.
- Improved enrichment opportunities.
- Increased rehabilitation capacity.
- Better preparation for release into natural habitat.
How You Can Help
Donor suppor is welcome through the donation of funds for the project, supply of materials for the project, or direct payment to suppliers (on presentation of quotes)
Channels for the donation of funds are available on our website through various online portals (EFT, PayPal, PayFast or Zapper) https://freemewildlife.org/donation-page/ or through direct communication with our CFO on finances@freemewildlife.org
The following benefits are offered to donors:
- Prominent acknowledgement as a project partner
- Plaque on the finished enclosure
- Logo recognition on campaign materials
- Dedicated social-media acknowledgement
- Certificate of appreciation
- Project progress updates
- Completion announcement
- Opportunity for staff engagement where appropriate
Section 18A
FreeMe Wildlife is a registered Public Benefit Organization and as such can issue donors with a Section 18A certificate as detailed in Section 18A of the Income Tax Act, allowing for their charitable donation to be deducted from their annual income tax (capped at 10% annually, but with provision for the excess to be carried over to the next financial year).