In the Spotlight: FreeMe Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre

FreeMe Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre is located in Johannesburg, South Africa and is working hard to save wildlife in the urban setting.

When a species exists in low numbers, every individual is a highly valuable component of the population. Unfortunately, with the growing human population and urban sprawl, more and more individuals of such species end up sick and injured. Founded in 1997 by a group of trained rehabilitators, FreeMe Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre provides medical attention and shelter to thousands of orphaned, abandoned, injured and displaced indigenous animals outside of Johannesburg, South Africa each year. While most veterinarians are not equipped to take in wild animals, FreeMe provides proper medical attention and a place for these animals to recover.

Most importantly, they take in animals intending to release them to the wild as soon as the animal has recovered. The animals are only released on carefully selected reserves and conservancies that provide the best opportunity for the rescued animal to flourish naturally in the wild again. This direct conservation of animals gives them a chance at survival that they wouldn’t have if this rehabilitation center did not exist, thus helping to conserve some of the most vulnerable wildlife populations in Southern Africa. This rehabilitation center lives by 3 R’s: Rescue, Rehabilitate, and Release.

FreeMe’s “there is no conservation without education” attitude gives rise to an education program involving lectures, presentations, newsletters, publicity, support, and advice. They reach out to local area schools and strive to instill a sense of responsibility to wildlife conservation amongst the youth with their presentations and lectures. They are actively involved with owl box projects, by which students help to set up boxes that owls can utilize to raise fledglings. Their quarterly magazine includes a “Kids’ Talk” section aimed at spreading their message about wildlife conservation to children in a very entertaining and educational way.

They also advise local communities about the importance of bringing sick or injured wildlife to the facility immediately to ensure the best chances for survival, as opposed to trying to care for the animal themselves which most often ends badly. FreeMe has even been successful in returning animals to the wild that were once owned as exotic pets! Holding themselves to the highest of ethical standards, FreeMe strives to be an extremely professional and efficient organization that works closely with a team of licensed veterinarians to ensure a wild future for each animal they take on. FreeMe Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre’s efforts contribute greatly to the direct conservation of threatened wildlife species with each and every animal they successfully return to its natural habitat.

To learn more about FreeMe, please visit their website.

About the Author, Sarah Pappin

I am a biologist-turned-writer, with a BSc in wildlife science from Oregon State University. I have been writing about global wildlife conservation issues since 2009. You may know me from my previous role at Bush Warriors or from my ongoing work with Annamiticus, Saving Rhinos, and Project Pangolin. When I'm not blogging, I enjoy loud music, creating art, hula hooping, and being outdoors. Read more of my articles here.