21/05/2023
Please support this cause
It’s not Dogs or cats but Owls are a lot like frogs. At the cutting edge of our eco systems
https://www.facebook.com/OwlRescueCentre?mibextid=LQQJ4d
This little lady on the right is from the Sibanye-Stillwater mine in Kroondal and our 800th rescue for this year so far.
Not many people will know this but our raptor population has declined by an average of 70% over the last 30 years. And we know that we always make light of the work that we do and we joke that without funding we're going to put up a sign on the gate saying "Gone fishing". But, funding has become a problem and somehow we need to fix that, because jokes aside, we believe we are making a huge positive difference to our raptor populations.
Our donations that we've received for the first four and a half months of this year cover 10% of our rescue overheads. Last year for the same period we were at over 30%. The year before that was over 45%. Which now means that 90% of the costs of rescuing and rehabilitating a wildlife patient falls directly on us, and with us on target for 2000 rescues for the year at an average cost of around R800 per rescue, it works out to a huge chunk of change.
We've had great support from Toyota SA over the last three years, without which we wouldn't be around, and recently from Glencore, Hot FM, Vodacom and a few other companies. But unfortunately of the company rescues that we do, of which there was 110 for this year so far, just one donated towards their patients rehab bill. Just the one.
It's mind boggling that these companies, and some of them are huge that turn over billions, cannot donate a few bucks to cover the cost for the rescue of wildlife on their premises.
Times have definitely changed, most of the corporate rescues are within warehouses or manufacturing workspaces and sometimes those rescues can take us the whole day to accomplish. And then, if possible, we'll advise them that we rely on donations. But they always have some excuse, either they don't have budget, you missed budget, we don't support wildlife welfare, we only support social welfare... the list goes on.
They won't even offer you coffee, so yeah. Times have changed. Sorry, I must correct that, one did offer coffee. Just the one.
The 690 private rescues we've done, were also all a free service, and we prefer it that they don't pay. That way people will always reach out to us when help is needed and we'll always happily help wherever in the country you are.
Long story short, we're going to need more people to see the value of what we do. There is no magic word or sentence we can write that can convince someone to donate. But, maybe you've been following us for awhile and know that we are legit, and would like to make a difference. A lot of people who give just a little, will add up to a lot.
Our bank Details:
Owl Rescue Centre NPC
Nedbank Current Account 103 081 9580
Branch Code 198 765
Reference: Donation & your name
Or, sign up for a monthly contribution at www.owlrescuecentre.org.za
To those who support us, thank you. To those that have donated, thank you. And to those who continue to donate, thank you. We do appreciate you😉