South African Wildlife Rehabilitation Center

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South African Wildlife Rehabilitation Center

Please do not email us with emergency cases.. call us / whatsapp us: 073 112 1131 This includes all Endangered Species

South African Wildlife Rehabilitation Center is situated 14km’s outside of Springs (Gauteng), on a small holding, which is protected by a trust. The open area and marshland bordering the rehab centre, makes the area an ideal release site for our birds, mammals and reptiles, following their successful rehabilitation. The centre was founded by Judy Davidson and the Late Ken Pollard, and is now manag

ed by Judy Davidson. Judy has been rehabilitating since 1985, and has won numerous awards for her dedication. South African Wildlife Rehabilitation Center is a rehabilitation centre, permitted by the Department of Nature Conservation to rehabilitate sick, injured and orphaned indigenous wildlife, with the aim of returning them to their natural habitat in a safe environment. The centre handles approximately 6'000 cases annually:
Birds: From Sparrows to Eagles and Owls
Ducks and Geese to Bustards
Mammals: From Vlei rats to Dassies, Genets, Servals and Caracals
Duikers, Jackals, and Primates
Reptiles: From Chameleons to Monitor Lizards
Tortoises to Snakes

Our Full permits allow us to work with any animals (up to the approximate size of a Wildebeest).

21/06/2026

Last night, at around 8pm, a gentleman named Alfred Motloung found himself in possession of something most people don’t expect to discover in their yard … a beautiful Barn Owl.
The owl was unable to fly and, for a while, her fate rested entirely in Alfred’s hands.

Thankfully, those hands were kind and gentle..
He gathered her up, found a suitable box, settled her safely inside, and then began the next challenge.. finding help.

A quick internet search led him to Judy’s number and, within minutes, a rescue plan was underway.

Now here’s where things get rather wonderful…
Within 40 minutes from first call to first aid care, the crumpled owl was delivered into Lauren Macleod’s professional hands, thanks to the quick pick up of Tshepo who happily welcomed his somewhat unusual fare into the warmth of his Uber vehicle.

Somewhere along the journey, Alfred sent us a message:
“The bird is on its way.
My daughter asks that you take care of it.”

Sir… with absolute pleasure.
Because of your compassion, the Barn owl received topnotch care for the evening, had warmth and all the essentials, and by 8AM, she was with the exceptional team at Park Veterinary Hospital receiving the help she desperately needed.

Alfred, thank you.
You did everything meticulously!
You stopped.
You cared.
You acted…
And because of that, a Barn Owl who could easily have spent a long, cold, wet night suffering was instead receiving professional treatment within 40 minutes of your call.

Rescues like this are only possible because of something many people don’t even realise exists behind the scenes.. our emergency Uber fund.

When wildlife needs help… time matters.
We often can’t wait until morning.
We often cannot find a volunteer nearby…
And our small team of first aid rescuers frequently runs themselves absolutely ragged trying to cover huge areas with limited resources.
But an Uber…
An Uber can often be at a location within minutes.
What would otherwise be:
“What do we do now?”
becomes
“Stand by… help is five minutes away.”
Last night’s Barn Owl rescue is a perfect example of just how critical these lifts have become.

Right now, our PayPal fund for these emergency collections is running desperately low.

If you’re able to spare a few Rands, please consider helping us keep those wheels turning.
Sometimes the difference between suffering and survival isn’t a specialised vehicle, flashing lights, or a dramatic rescue team…
It’s a cardboard box, a kind-hearted stranger and an Uber driver, willing to help when wildlife needs it most.

PayPal: https://www.paypal.me/SAWildlife

Or our bank to help:

South African Wildlife
Rehabilitation Centre
FNB
# 6275 926 5434
B/c: 250 655
Business Account
SWIFT Code:
FIRNZAJJ

19/06/2026

We just absolutely melted…!

In Wednesday, we had a drop-off arrive at the centre. Naturally, we braced ourselves for an animal in desperate need of care.

Instead, we opened the gate to discover something almost as exciting…

A mountain of F10 products!

Along with this wonderfully understated note from Antrovet Animal Health:

“Dear Judy

Just some F10 to say ‘keep up the excellent work you do!’

Regards
Mirilene Frewen”

“Just some F10”...

JUST. SOME. F10.

Mirilene, we’re not entirely sure what your definition of “some” is, but if this“some”, is huge for us!

For those outside the veterinary and rehabilitation world, F10 products are absolute gold. They are among the most trusted and valued products used in clinics, hospitals and wildlife rehabilitation facilities, helping us keep our patients healthy, safe and protected.

To say we were spoiled would be a spectacular understatement.

Your generosity has blessed not only us, but every wild patient that will benefit from these products in the months ahead. Donations like these quietly make an enormous difference behind the scenes, allowing us to continue providing the highest standard of care to the thousands of animals that pass through our doors each year.

From all of us at the centre, and from the countless furry, feathered and scaly patients who will never know your name but will benefit from your kindness…

Thank you.

Your support means more than words can adequately express.

18/06/2026

One Less Hoot

Today, our hearts are heavy.

We would like to pay tribute to a very special Spotted Eagle Owl who, for many years, was far more than just a wild bird.
She was a neighbour.
A familiar voice in the darkness.
A constant presence woven into the lives of an entire community.

Many years ago, we were called to assist a close knit community in Morehill that had become home to a magnificent breeding pair of Spotted Eagle Owls.
It was there that we first met Vasti, who, after learning a difficult lesson with the pair’s first owlet, took steps to make her property safer by covering her swimming pool.

What followed was something truly remarkable.

Year after year, a small army of caring residents kept watch over these owls and their growing family.
We got to meet Ben, Magda, Bev, Katinka, Ruben and a host of other beautiful folks!
They celebrated every successful nesting season.
They worried over every fledgling mishap.
They shared photographs, stories and updates, and together they became guardians of a little piece of wildness in the middle of suburbia.

There were owlets that needed to be collected, monitored, healed, treated and returned. One youngster survived a near fatal dip in a neighbour’s swimming pool after being pulled out just in time.
Another was rescued with an eye injury, treated, and later released back to the place it belonged.
Most seasons saw a successful 3 owlets fledging and leaving when they were ready!

Each year brought new adventures, new photographs, new stories and, most importantly, the reassuring sound of those familiar evening calls echoing through the neighbourhood.

This morning, that story took a devastating turn.

We awoke to the news that one of the breeding pair had been found dead.

When the photographs arrived, the cause became heartbreakingly clear.

Blood stained her face, filling her mouth and nostrils.

Poison.

Not age.
Not illness.
Not an accident.

Poison.

As we write this, her mate is still guarding her nest.
She had been spending long hours in her owl box, while he faithfully stood watch over the territory they shared for so many years.
Protecting. Providing. Calling to her from the darkness.

And now, suddenly, she’s gone.

There is an emptiness in Morehill now that cannot easily be explained to those who never knew her.

To those who watched her raise generation after generation of owlets… to those who looked forward to hearing her calls at dusk… to those who followed every triumph and every close call over the years…

She was family.

A wild soul who asked for nothing and gave so much.

Her loss is being felt far beyond the branches where she perched.

There is one less sentinel watching over the neighbourhood.

One less pair of amber eyes scanning the darkness.

One less devoted mother.
One less voice calling into the night.

We can only hope that this tragedy serves as a reminder of how devastating poison is.
It never stops with the intended target. It moves silently through the food chain, claiming lives that people never intended to harm.
Lives that matter.

For now, a community mourns.

And somewhere in Morehill, a lone owl sits near a nest box waiting for a call that will never come.

Rest peacefully, dear Spotty.

Thank you for the countless evenings of hooting, for the generations of owlets you helped bring into the world, and for the joy you brought to so many people who were privileged enough to know you.

You will be missed.

Deeply.

Always. 🦉💔

16/06/2026

A gentle reminder from the wildlife department…

Before you attack that tree, hedge, shrub, bush, creeper, vine, or whatever green thing has offended you this week, please take a few minutes to have a proper look inside it.

What looks like an overgrown nuisance to us is often prime real estate to birds.
Every year countless nests, eggs, and babies are accidentally destroyed during routine garden maintenance because nobody knew they were there.

These two youngsters were discovered just in time when a creeper was being cut.
Thankfully, they were carefully removed (nest and all) and are now safely in the capable hands of Lauren Macleod, where they are receiving five star accommodation, room service, and better healthcare than most humans.

The second best part of this story, is that qualified help was sought immediately.
No google
No food
No fluid.. just straight in to well versed permitted hands to do what we do best!

A quick inspection before cutting can mean the difference between a family surviving or a tragedy unfolding.

The birds will thank you.
Well… not directly. They’ll mostly just stare at you suspiciously and p**p on your patio. But they’ll be alive, and that’s what counts!

15/06/2026

Now, most people don’t wake up in the morning and think, “You know what South Africa desperately needs? More rats.”

Dirk Barnard, however, is clearly operating on a higher plane of humanitarian thinking, understanding our “corner” more than most!

Dirk has created a wonderful way of supporting wildlife NPOs by inviting the public to vote for their favourite rehabilitation centres.
The winning organisations then receive much needed donations, ranging from tortoise food to frozen rodent supplies for birds of prey (or some other interesting cases in our care).

Last week, we were fortunate enough to again receive a substantial donation of frozen rats, which travelled all the way from the Cape where Dirk lives. Not only was the donation incredibly generous, but Dirk also covered the shipping costs to ensure every last frozen rat arrived safely.

For wildlife rehabilitation centres, support like this is invaluable.
Every donated rat represents one less expense and one more hungry owl, eagle, serval, caracal, genet, or other patient that can be fed.

While most people see boxes full of deceased rodents, our residents see a gourmet buffet and the finest dining experience this side of the food chain.

Dirk, thank you for your kindness, your generosity, and for consistently finding creative ways to support wildlife organisations around the country!
Your support is appreciated far more than words can adequately express.
From all of us, both feathered and human, thank you.

12/06/2026

Only 340 remain.

340.

That's the entire global population of Botha's Lark.

This bird occurs nowhere else on Earth except South Africa. If we lose it here, we lose it forever.

We made this film to tell its story.

If you've already watched it, thank you. If not, please take a few minutes to do so.

Then share it.

Not tomorrow. Not next week. Today.

Every share puts this species in front of new people. Every tag helps grow awareness. Every view gives this bird a slightly louder voice.

Let's see how far we can spread the story of one of South Africa's most endangered birds.

Watch the film. Share the post. Tag your birding friends.

Together, we can make sure more than 340 people know about the 340 birds that remain.

Read the story and watch the film: https://bit.ly/Behindthebothas

11/06/2026

Warning: Side effects may include productivity, improved decision making, optimism, and the previously undocumented ability to speak civilly to people before 9AM.

Smooth, rich, dangerously drinkable, and highly recommended for anyone suffering from Early Morning Human Malfunction Syndrome.

It’s no secret that we love our coffee… and as luck would have it, we have a crafted magnificent Premium Arabica blend packaged just for us and it’s now available in our online store.

(Just remember to select whether you’d like beans or ground coffee when ordering.)

This isn’t just novelty coffee hiding in a fancy bag. The Premium Arabica inside is genuinely top-tier stuff, already trusted by multiple coffee shops and serious coffee drinkers.

A decent portion of every 1kg bag sold goes directly toward supporting our wildlife rehabilitation work.

So while you’re restoring your own endangered species status before work, you’re also helping us rescue, rehabilitate and release South Africa’s wildlife.

It’s conservation with extra caffeine.

All that remains is to feed it into your preferred Yum-Yum Machine, wait a few moments, and achieve temporary human functionality.

Everybody wins!

(Except perhaps the person who talks to you before your first cup.)

https://www.sawrc.org.za/category/coffee

Or call Jenette to order:

+27 (82) 886-6838

R350 / kg

10/06/2026

There is something incredibly special about animal welfare organisations helping one another.

Every rescue centre, shelter, and rehabilitation facility knows the daily balancing act of caring for the animals already in their charge while wondering what fresh chaos tomorrow might deliver, so when one organisation reaches out a helping hand to another, it is something truly worth celebrating!

The wonderful team at the Animal Anti-Cruelty League Johannesburg has generously donated a whopping 150kg of dog food and a host of other goodies to help support the animals in our care.
That is 150kg of happy tummies which will definitely help us in the months to come as well!
It brought one very large sigh of relief from our team!

In a world that can sometimes feel a little short on kindness, this sort of generosity reminds us that we are all part of the same village, working towards the same goal… giving animals the care, dignity, and second chances they deserve.

The donation has taken enormous pressure off our immediate food needs and we cannot thank the team enough. We can only hope that the universe repays the Animal Anti Cruelty League in whatever way they need most (preferably with interest, bonuses, and perhaps a few miracles thrown in for good measure. We would happily settle for it being returned to them 10’000 fold).

From the bottom of our hearts (and from the bottoms of a great many food bowls) thank you, Team AACL. You have absolutely spoiled us.

09/06/2026

There is something deeply satisfying about finishing the last clinic check, filling a few final hungry tummies, and finally climbing into bed.
The day is done.
The animals are settled.
The world can carry on without you for a few hours.

Or so you think.

Judy is no stranger to those strange wildlife rehab alarm clocks that seem to ring exclusively at ridiculous hours.
Last night, at ten to one in the morning, (00:50) .. the phone rang.
A few moments later, after a brief conversation consisting mostly of, "Yes, absolutely. No problem at all," she was out of bed, pulling on the warmest jacket she could find to fight against the already freezing temps, and heading for the rehab gate.

Most normal people would have been muttering darkly into the night.
Judy, however, arrived smiling.
Waiting for her were the response team from Ghost Security, who had taken the time to stop and assist a beautiful Barn Owl that was clearly having a very rough evening.

Not only had they rescued her, but they had also transported her all the way through to us at 1 A.M.
Suddenly, getting out of bed didn't seem like such a terrible deal.

Back in the warmth of the clinic, Judy began her examination.
Concussion… Thick.
Bruising… Plenty.
Spinal trauma… Present, but thankfully repairable.

The little owl looked as though she had gone twelve rounds with a freight train and then lost the judges' decision.

Still, after a careful assessment, Judy's verdict was simple…
"Okay... we can do this."
After setting up a warm carrier, administering fluids, and providing all the immediate care she needed, Judy sat quietly for a while, keeping watch over her newest patient.

Satisfied that the owl was stable and comfortable, she finally headed back to bed to steal a few precious hours of sleep before daylight arrived to demand more of the same.

Our midnight arrival has been christened Ghost in honour of the security team who ensured she made it safely to us.
Ghost the Barn Owl will need several days of intensive TLC, but fortunately she has landed in exactly the right place.
If there's one thing Judy dispenses generously .. it's compassion.

For now Ghost is warm, safe, and receiving the very best care.
And honestly, that's not a bad outcome for a patient who arrived at one o'clock in the morning freezing cold.

06/06/2026

It’s not every day that a poacher strolls around in broad daylight trying to sell a "tiger baby" for R100.

When Jaco and Faya Joan McIntosh were first approached, they didn’t pay the man much attention… After all, South Africans hear some fairly creative sales pitches, but after speaking to several people who had also been offered the mysterious "tiger baby", they realised this was no joke.

Knowing that leaving the kitten behind could condemn it to a truly awful fate, a quick exchange was made and the bag was thrust into their hands.

Peering inside, they immediately realised this was no ordinary kitten… but the smell hit first…
Not a "needs a bath" smell.
Not a "rolled in something unpleasant" smell.
A full blown, eye watering, nostril assaulting, rotting in the pits of hell kinda smell.

The kitten had already been dragged through two different towns after being caught, and his trauma must have been next level, but it was immediately obvious that something else was very, very wrong.

A flurry of phone calls followed, plans were made at speed, and Judy raced off to meet the couple and take over care of the tiny passenger.

One glance into the bag confirmed it… a very wild, very purr-plexed, thoroughly compromised serval kitten.
Still spicy enough to object strongly to the entire situation, but clearly feeling miserable.

Judy wasted no time arranging emergency veterinary care with Dr. Garith Newby at Selpark Veterinary Clinic.

Following a thorough examination, and some discussion, treatment was immediately started to tackle a serious case of haemorrhagic diarrhoea.
Judy has him back in her clinic, giving regular feeds and after a decent wash and dry, the serval kitten is looking and smelling just peachy!

Despite everything this little serval has endured, he remains a fighter.
The rescue family have chosen a fitting name for the youngster: Mufasa… And perhaps it was fate. The R50 handed to the poacher for a meal bears the image of one of Africa's most iconic lions, and now that same note has helped change the course of a future king's life.

Mufasa may be tiny for now, all oversized ears, attitude and indignation, but one day he will grow into the magnificent hunter nature intended him to be.

A king indeed.

For now, however, the king's duties consist mainly of recovering, taking his medication, and reminding everyone within earshot that he is deeply unimpressed by humans.

Address

63 First Street
Springs
1559

Telephone

+27731121131

Website

https://www.instagram.com/sawildliferehabilitationcentre?igsh=MWk3aW1xejJzdWV0ag%3D%3D&utm_source=qr, https://www.tiktok

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