Kogelberg Biosphere

In 2022, wildfires in Kleinmond highlighted the need for a rehabilitation centre for animals. During the fires, a team of volunteers worked tirelessly to save tortoises, chameleons and other vulnerable animals caught in the flames. After the fires, Kogelberg Biosphere CEO, Corlie Hugo, reached out to Michelle Watson, a certified wildlife rehabilitator and one of the first South Africans accredited by the International Wildlife Rehabilitation Council. Together they recognised the urgent need for a dedicated centre in the Western Cape. The next step was to find a suitable location for the centre. The breakthrough came when Liezl de Villiers, Divisional Manager of the Overstrand Municipality, offered them the opportunity to lease an old building just outside Betty’s Bay. With the help of volunteers and through wonderful donations, the facility was renovated – with a fully operational emergency clinic, patient recovery room and a dedicated kitchen for preparing meals for the animals put in place. Flight enclosures were also constructed to aid in rehabilitation. Then the process started to obtain the necessary permits – and CapeNature worked closely with the Kogelberg Biosphere team to secure the permits for the centre, the first of its kind in the province. The principles our rescue centre lives by For our centre, no animal is considered too small or insignificant to deserve care. From mice and goslings, to snakes and porcupines, all animals have a place here to recover. But a key focus for our centre is providing a place of care for injured blue cranes. Our national birds are frequently affected by human activities – from fences to bailing twine and powerlines. That’s why we can now serve as a rescue centre for orphaned or injured cranes, before releasing them back into the wild. Now we need help to make this centre a lasting success. The financial demands of running a centre like ours are extensive. There are not only the costs of maintaining the facility and where possible, paying a team to manage the centre. But we also need to cover the costs of the food for the animals, transport to the centre and to cover veterinary expenses. That’s why we need YOUR help.