Friends of Free Wildlife

Friends of Free Wildlife A fully permitted, community run wildlife rehabilitation centre. Rescue. Rehabilitate. Release. NPO Reg: 171-026NPO

18/06/2026

Another fantastic and heartwarming rehabilitation success story — this time featuring a lucky Crowned Lapwing.

This beautiful adult bird was found grounded by a caring rescuer on 30 April 2026. It is suspected that he had been struck by a vehicle, leaving him with severe spinal trauma and unable to stand.

After a week of appropriate medication, dedicated care, and plenty of TLC, he made a remarkable recovery. Before long, he was able to stand on his own again and continued to regain his strength.

On Saturday, 13 June 2026, he was returned to an area where many lapwings are known to gather. After spending some time quietly taking in his surroundings, he suddenly took flight when a Blacksmith Lapwing landed nearby.

What a sight it was to watch him soar!

A short while later, he was spotted with a companion. It didn’t take him long to embrace his freedom and get back to doing what lapwings do best — being a lapwing.

Another happy ending, made possible by a caring rescuer, dedicated rehabilitation, and a determined little bird.


Thank you, thank you, thank you to the amazing angels who delivered this incredible donation on Friday 🧡. Your generosit...
17/06/2026

Thank you, thank you, thank you to the amazing angels who delivered this incredible donation on Friday 🧡. Your generosity will make a huge difference to our rehabilitation work and help ensure our wildlife patients receive the very best care on their journey back to the wild where they belong 🐾🦉🐦‍⬛

Not everyone can catch an owl, transport a hedgehog or bottle-feed an orphaned animal. But if you'd like to help wildlif...
05/06/2026

Not everyone can catch an owl, transport a hedgehog or bottle-feed an orphaned animal. But if you'd like to help wildlife and aren't sure how, this is a wonderful place to start.

Choose Friends of Free Wildlife as your beneficiary on the Woolworths MyDifference programme and your everyday shopping can help support the rescue and rehabilitation of wildlife in need.

It's quick to set up:

• Open your Woolies app
• Tap Loyalty
• Select Causes
• Find us under Environment
• Choose Friends of Free Wildlife

A small action from you can make a very big difference for the animals in our care.

04/06/2026

Celebrating a decade of impact, Friends of Free Wildlife is dedicated to rescuing, rehabilitating, and releasing urban wildlife in Gauteng.

03/06/2026

Coming soon…
Join us for our next Christmas in July Walk/Run fundraiser.
More info to follow soon. ✨

31/05/2026

Today marks 10 years of rescuing and caring for the wild neighbours living all around us. 🦉🦆🦎

From doves in distress, abandoned goslings and ducklings, wounded hadedas and grounded owls… to genets in palm trees, dassies in car engines, mongooses causing chaos, bullfrogs blocking traffic, pet tortoises enjoying 5-star kitchen cuisine, and duikers strolling through suburbia as if they own the place. 😅

For a decade, Friends of Free Wildlife has been proving that greater Gauteng is far wilder than most people realise. 💚

In total, 3️⃣1️⃣ 3️⃣8️⃣6️⃣ birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates have come through our doors!

To our founding members who had the vision to begin this journey, our incredible staff and volunteers who answer calls at all hours and go above and beyond every single day, and every donor who has kept us going through some truly difficult times — thank you. This work simply would not exist without you. 🙏🏻🧡

And to every person who stopped, picked up the phone, slowed down, or chose compassion over convenience — thank you for caring about the wild animals who share this space with us.😍

Here’s to the next 10 years of rescues, releases, second chances, and saving wild lives — no matter how big or small. 🐾🎉

If you'd like to contribute to the continued care of wild ones like this, our banking details are below:

Friends of Free Wildlife
Bank: Nedbank Limited
Account No: 1135 622 957
SWIFT: NEDSZAJJ

Thank you for helping us keep the wild in wildlife.

Wild tortoises belong in the wild.Every year, indigenous tortoises are removed from their natural habitats, relocated, k...
27/05/2026

Wild tortoises belong in the wild.

Every year, indigenous tortoises are removed from their natural habitats, relocated, kept as pets, painted, marked, chained, or unnecessarily “rescued” by well-meaning people. Unfortunately, these actions can cause immense stress, injury, disorientation and even death.

Here's a little infographic on what to do if you find a tortoise:

Help keep the wild in wildlife.

23/05/2026

We are proud to have successfully hosted a stand at this year’s YEBO GOGGA exhibition of science and biology held at Wits University from 13–17 May 2026.

With approximately 7,000 visitors attending the exhibition, it was an incredible opportunity to showcase the important work of our wildlife rehabilitation centre and engage with members of the public of all ages.

One of the highlights was educating children and families about urban wildlife, conservation, and the vital role wildlife rehabilitation plays in protecting and caring for injured and displaced animals. Seeing so much curiosity, enthusiasm, and support from the community was truly inspiring.

A big thank you to Helen and her team of FFW volunteers for giving so generously of their time, engaging with visitors, and helping raise awareness about the urban wildlife that shares our space.

A special thank you as well to Tracy Lemon of VISIONS GROUP who, together with Ruhan Rossouw, set up a laptop and monitor so that we could run a continuous wildlife rehabilitation reel throughout the five-day exhibition without a hitch.

Lastly, thank you to everyone who visited our stand, asked questions, shared stories, and supported our mission. Together, we can create greater awareness and compassion for the wildlife living alongside us in our urban environments. 🦉🐢🌿

One of the simplest ways to be part of every rescue we do is through the Woolworths MyDifference programme.By selecting...
20/05/2026

One of the simplest ways to be part of every rescue we do is through the Woolworths MyDifference programme.

By selecting Friends of Free Wildlife as your beneficiary, your regular shopping turns into real support for injured and displaced wildlife.

To set it up:
Head to your Woolies app
Tap on Loyalty
Select Causes
Find us under Environment
Choose Friends of Free Wildlife

It’s a small action that adds up to something meaningful every single month.

This Magnificent Barn Owl Painting was donated by the amazing fine artist - Helen Wallace Day Artist You can win it by s...
13/05/2026

This Magnificent Barn Owl Painting was donated by the amazing fine artist - Helen Wallace Day Artist
You can win it by simply buying a raffle ticket/s per ticket!

🐾Free Wildlife
Nedbank Nicolway
# 1135 622 957
Ref #: (your cell number + BO) & email to [email protected]

Once payment is confirmed, we will send you your ticket number/s.

Thank you for your support! 🌸

The raffle draw will take place early September.
Contact person Linda on 083 286 5819

Address

69 Rose Road, Witpoort (Beaulieu)
Midrand
1684

Opening Hours

Monday 08:00 - 17:00
Tuesday 08:00 - 17:00
Wednesday 08:00 - 17:00
Thursday 08:00 - 17:00
Friday 08:00 - 17:00
Saturday 08:00 - 17:00
Sunday 08:00 - 17:00

Telephone

+27825613681

Website

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