Kogelberg Biosphere Wildlife

02/02/2025

The Kogelberg Biosphere Wildlife Rescue and Training Center officially opened 6 weeks ago, and already we have reached maximum carrying capacity!
The thing is, we cannot take in more patients than what we can give proper care to. Our capacity is limited by our resources, our available enclosures, the number of volunteers we have, our funding and our permit regulations.
And yet the calls for help keep coming in! Everyday I receive calls about wildlife in distress. Some days, like last Friday, I receive over 80 calls in a day. It is heart breaking to turn away desperate cases because we simply do not have the resources.
To be able to assist more injured animals we need your help. Please volunteer a couple of hours a week, or donate towards more enclosures, food or vet bills. Every bit helps us to care for another desperate patient. Go to www.Kogelbergbiosphere.org.za and make a monthly donation that can save a life.

01/02/2025

One of my most favourite and dearest birds is the Blue Crane, for various reasons.
They are feisty, dangerous, yet gentle, playful and have character of note.

To sit with such a majestic bird in my hands, trying to save its life, is not only a huge responsibility, but an honour.

It's truly heartbreaking when such a special creature is so extremely vulnerable and emaciated, depending on a human, to survive.

This youngster was found hanging upside down, stuck in a barbed wire fence, for how long is anyone's guess.
He is just skin and bones, he can't stand up at all, completely emaciated and his wings are floppy, with little movement.
I sit with this beautiful bird in my hands, holding him up to get blood running through his legs and I wonder.......what have we done to the world, to our environment?

His knees are swollen and infected, his face tells a story of sadness. He cuddles up under my chest for comfort and security, making soft gentle sounds. It breaks my heart.

He settles down after receiving medication and a meal, falling asleep, while I am holding him up. What have they done to deserve the curse by human hand?

Even if all humans leave this planet right now, it's too late, we left destruction and obstructions in their path. This world will still be polluted with rubbish and obstacles that will take hundreds of years to dissipate, leaving animals trapped, stuck and confined.
Are we not the intelligent species ? Ordained to look after these creatures of creation, to protect and value. Apparently not! We kill and destroy as far as we walk this earth.

The day that our greed and destructive attitude bites us up the butt, I promise that I will not say, I told you so! I will remember each and every single patient that came through our doors and sit back, keeping my mouth shut, knowing that we brought misery upon ourselves, because when our environment dies, we die!

PS. Thank you Adrienne for playing taxi and getting this Lil lad to our centre in no time.
It will be a long night, but we will do everything in our power to save his life, because he is worth it.

31/01/2025

A big THANK YOU to the amazing vets at Wellington Animal Hospital who yesterday admitted 3 Spotted Eagle Owls in various states of health, for over night care. The Kogelberg Biosphere Wildlife Rescue and Training Center is 100% dependent on the generous help of veterinarians who assist us in unexpected emergencies such as this. Today, the two surviving owls began their recovery phase at the Center and will soon be returned to their own territories. Thank you also to Mike, Alister and Elaine whose passion and dedication to wildlife made all the long distance logistics possible.

28/01/2025

28/01/2025

A Double Tragedy: A very young blue crane was found alongside its dead mother, who had tragically become entangled in a barbed wire fence.- a horrible way for any bird to die.
The chick was rescued
by the farmer who decided to try and raise it himself. This well-meaning act lead to the 2nd tragedy, an imprinted chick.
Hand-raising wildlife requires very specialised skills to be able to raise a baby so that it recognises its own kind., and should not be undertaken by the public.
Thankfully CapeNature stepped in and the bird was sent to the permitted Kogelberg Biosphere Wildlife Rescue and Training Center.
Here this cheeky chick (who the farmer named Tin-Tin) will receive the correct diet, as well as meet other blue cranes to identify with. The rewilding process will take long and require very special circumstances and care. A Special "soft-release" enclosure will need to be built alongside a wild flock for the final stage of rehabilitation. If you or your company would like to sponsor or support our national bird, please make a pledge towards the rehabilitation of this threatened species. Call Michelle on 0733140674 or go to www.kogelbergbiosphere.org.za
A special thank you goes to our trained first responders, Heather and Erna, who quickly stepped in to ensure that this baby got the best care during the rescue. We cannot manage without our extended team. Call Michelle to find out how you can join our growing network.

"We do this in a way that brings people closer to our planet, so that people of the Kogelberg Biosphere thrive, while living in harmony

21/01/2025

ALL CREATURES GREAT AND SMALL...
An average day at the Kogelberg Biosphere Wildlife Rescue and Training Center can include every thing from rescuing the tiniest baby field mouse, to a call about a grounded vulture. Our team responds to wildlife emergencies in the Overberg and far beyond. Yesterday's round trip to check and monitor a young vulture located far from traditional feeding areas, then back to tend to the little mouse can take a lot of time, petrol and money. We are appealing for partners in conservation, corporates and individuals who would like to become involved in wildlife rescue to please get in touch with us. We cannot continue this work without your support. Donations can now easily be made on a monthly basis by simply ticking the option on the donate page at www.kogelbergbiosphere.org.za
Keep following us for updates on both patients.

09/01/2025

Doing what we can to save this iconic species!

❓Did You Know❓

The Blue Crane, South Africa's national bird, is a symbol of love and loyalty. These graceful birds form lifelong bonds with their mates, staying together through thick and thin. 💚

Blue Cranes are known for their elegant courtship displays, which include intricate dances, head bobbing, and leaps into the air. These rituals strengthen their pair bonds and are a sight to behold in the wild.

However, these iconic birds face growing threats like habitat loss due to agricultural expansion, powerline collisions, and human-wildlife conflict. Conservation efforts are crucial to ensure their survival and to preserve their role as symbols of South Africa's rich biodiversity.

08/01/2025

Every wildlife rescue center needs a great veterinarian to be the co-signee on permit applications and to oversee the medical treatment of all patients. The Kogelberg Biosphere Wildlife Rescue and Training Center is particularly blessed to have Dr Floris Kruger of Southern Vet, as our expert doctor who we turn to for advise on all cases needing medical care. The KBWRTC looks forward to becoming a registered clinic under his auspices and to becoming the go-to facility in the Western Cape for all things wild. But we cannot do it without your help. Expert medial care is not free and every patient admitted to our center costs us money to treat. Please consider leaving a donation when you drop off a patient, or contributing directly to our bill at Southern Vet. Every rand helps.
a big thank you to Dr Kruger for treating a Boomslange last year, that had been ridden over by a car. Maybe not the kind of patient he was expecting as our first, but the start of a great working relationship none the less!

04/01/2025

04/01/2025

During the gal-force winds last Tuesday, the Kogelberg Biosphere Wildlife Rescue and Training Center suffered some minor damage. The support poles of our 4000 cubic meter flight aviary literally bent in the wind. We would like to extend a massive THANK YOU to Haygrove who quickly responded and repaired the aviary the next day . Our "teenage" Blue Cranes are back in thier own space and growing up fast! Running a rescue Center for indigenous and endangered species, like blue cranes, is a costly business. Please consider donating to the care of these siblings, who will go on to add to the conservation of their species. Go to www. Kogelbergbiosphere.Org.za with the reference "Blue Cranes.

02/01/2025

The recently permitted Kogelberg Biosphere Wildlife Rescue and Training center is in the process of setting up a network of volunteers and First Responders to help cover the enormous area of the Overberg and the greater Western Cape. Along with a handful of permitted facilities in this part of the world, we are aiming to have a province wide reach to be able to respond to wildlife in distress. . To become a part of our team, please consider receiving some basic training. Details below:

31/12/2024

Goslings to Geese: The release of orphans.
Tiny Egyptian goslings often get separated from their parents in built up areas, where dogs, cars and fences can disrupt the family group. Over the period of a few weeks, 5 single orphaned goslings where dropped off at the newly formed Kogelberg Biosphere Wildlife Rescue and Training center, where they bonded with each other.
Raising water birds requires special husbandry, diets and of course permits. When inexperienced members of the public attempt to raise geese there is a high risk of them developing 'angle wings' - a deformity where their flight feathers grow out in spirals rendering them un-releasable.
Our five healthy youngsters got moved today to a perfect location, a lovely dam on a secure property where they will complete their rehabilitation, and learn to forage for wild food. Upon release, they immediately lost interest in the substitute support feed and started naturally foraging in the water around their new island home.
Thank you to Katharina from Capensis Guest house for hosting them, and to the Arrebella Hotel for providing fresh greens for them during their stay. Also, thank you to everyone who donated to their care and followed their progress with interest. The role of a rehabilitation center is to provide the best possible welfare and care to injured, orphaned or compromised wildlife. We wont turn any patient away. As the only multispecies facility in the Overberg, we cover a massive area. Without your support and the support of our community, we cannot carry out our work. Please consider donating to the species of your choice, via the web site: www.kogelbergbiosphere.org.za, or volunteer your time to help us out at the center. You can call Michelle on 0733140674

23/12/2024

Wishing all our supporters, our wildlife community, rescuers and volunteer who have helped us get this far, a wonderful and peaceful Christmas. The Kogelberg Biosphere Wildlife Rescue and Training Center will be OPEN, 24/7, right through the holidays to attend to any wildlife emergency calls. You can reach me on 073 314 0674 for any wildlife related issues. The center will be manned (or "womanned", as the case might be) everyday from 7 am to 7pm right through the festive season. Our patients don't know that its a public holiday and will still need care and feeding. You can help us feel a little more 'festive' by supporting the work we do, donating to the our fundraising account, or by volunteering your time at the center. Presents for the patients are also always welcome. Thank you to everyone who has made a Christmas donation via our website www.kogelbergbiosphere.org.za
A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL.

18/12/2024

BETTYS BAY: Wildlife maimed by shooters lead bullets.
On Tuesday the 17th, a CapeNature official came across a baby Dassie ( Rock Hyrax) dragging its paralyzed hind legs across the road, close to the Penguin colony at Stoney point. It was battling to breath and was obviously suffering. He brought it through to the Kogelberg Biosphere Wildlife Rescue and Training Center where I quickly treated it for dehydration and pain. The dassie was then taken to Southern Vet in Kleinmond where Dr Kruger did full body x-rays. The radiographs revealed 2 lead pellets, one imbedded in the Dassies chest and one near its pelvis. This poor animal had been senselessly shot by someone in the Una and Rocky Ridge Street area.
Firing of a weapon is strictly prohibited in residential areas, as is hunting without a permit. But blatant, intentional animal cruelty is far more concerning to me. (Studies have shown that convicted murders often begin their violent episodes by inflicting pain on helpless animals) .
We live in the UNESCO recognized Kogelberg Biosphere, surrounded by a menagerie of wildlife that makes this such a special place. It breaks my hear that something like this could happen in our neighborhood.
If you see something, please report it to CapeNature. If you find an injured or compromised wild animal, please call me on 0733140674.
If you would like to help us do our work, then please consider donating at www.Kogelberg Biosphere, or perhaps help us settle our growing veterinary bill at Southern Vet

13/12/2024

Thank you to Scales Conservation Fund for your on going support of this venture. We will soon have news about the official opening,, thank you for the role you guys played in helping us achieve this.

Meet the Team: Michelle Watson, a Wildlife Champion in the Western Cape

This month, we’re excited to spotlight Michelle Watson, the visionary behind the soon-to-open Kogelberg Biosphere Wildlife Rescue and Training Centre—a groundbreaking initiative and the first of its kind in the Western Cape!

After spending 20 years in Johannesburg, where her passion for conservation took root, Michelle has found a new home in the stunning Kogelberg Biosphere. Renowned for its rich biodiversity, the region, she says, is “literally a breath of fresh air.”

Michelle is on a mission to inspire change through education, empowering communities to better understand, appreciate, and coexist with wildlife. “We can all benefit from knowing and appreciating our wild neighbours, understanding their needs, and finding a harmonious way to live alongside them,” she explains, reflecting her dream of a world where humans and wildlife flourish together.

With the centre’s opening on the horizon, Michelle is paving the way for a brighter future, fostering harmony between wildlife and people across the Western Cape.

12/12/2024

Dear Father Christmas,
Please fill up our collection boxes with lots of goodies to help us save our wildlife over the festive season.
Kind regards
The Kogelberg Biosphere Wildlife Rescue Center