AfriTrust takes the utmost care in the selection of projects that it will get involved in. The SanWild Wildlife Sanctuary fulfils all of our criteria as a wild animal rehabilitation centre, and more. We are proud to be associated with this organisation and all that it stands for.
The SanWild Wildlife Sanctuary is truly unique and the first of a kind in Africa. It is evident that here animals definitely come first and man has to adapt to this strict rule. The SanWild team is totally dedicated to the animals in their care and nothing is spared to make the animals' lives as pleasant and treatment as effective as possible. Here the land actually belong to the animals themselves and to date more than 4500 wild animals have been rescued and rehabilitated back to the wild in the sanctuary that totals just over 6000 hectares.
South Africa is in desperate need of bona-fide and reputable wildlife rehabilitation centres that put the animals' interest first so that to ensure that they do not end up spending the rest of their lives in captivity to draw in paying tourists and volunteers for the benefit of the owners. At SanWild you will never find cage upon cage with wild animals; what you will find is a fantastic wildlife reserve filled with rehabilitated and rescued animals living naturally the way God intended when He created them. It is evident that in this reserve animals have learnt to trust and not fear people.
Tame black rhino |
In South Africa Provincial and National Parks are not interested in taking in rehabilitated wild animals for release back to the wild. Many private game farms are used as hunting destinations and therefore cannot be considered as a suitable and safe destination for rescued and rehabilitated animals. SanWild's objectives are a combination of acquiring and preserving suitable habitat for indigenous wildlife and saving individual wild animals in need of help.
The SanWild team's pro-active approach to wild animal emergencies have seen a herd of elephants rescued from culling and individual lions plucked from a hunter's telescope. Where necessary the team will investigate wild animal trading syndicates and have reported on numerous illegal-hunting operations, thus seeing the animals saved in the nick of time.
Bruchells zebras prefer the large open plains |
SanWild's pro-active rescue policy have further resulted in the exposure of unethical practices in the South African wildlife industry and the team will where necessary purchase animals from unacceptable conditions to save their lives. Animals purchased are used to convey a message to the international world that all is not well in South Africa and that indeed many wild animals are suffering terribly as a result of peoples' uncaring attitude
SanWild Sunset |
SanWild's outspoken criticism of the wildlife and hunting industries (i.e. canned lion hunting) have resulted in attempts by certain individuals and a local television program (favouring the pro-use of wildlife) to discredit the organization publicly to try and put a stop to the organization receiving donor funding. However, the Trust and their loyal supporters have remained strong and continue to expose the unethical and inhumane treatment of wild animals in South Africa.
Leopard cub rescued from illegal canned hunt |
The wild animal rescue team stationed at the rehabilitation centre responds to all emergency calls received and all animals are accepted regardless of their financial value or species importance. Wild animals ranging from small mammals such as tree squirrels, mongoose, and caracals to larger mammals such as waterbuck, giraffe, zebra, rhino, leopard and lions have all been accepted for treatment and have been released back to the wild in the reserve. Many of them were orphaned, abused, traumatized or illegally captured for hunting or trading before they were rescued and treated by the SanWild response team
Snared giraffe rescue |
All the animals featured in the photographs on this site, had been rescued by SanWild and their full stories can be found on the SanWild website.
Operation on lion with broken hip |
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