Wild Animal Volunteers Blog - Wild Animal Volunteers

Planting Oxygen for Arbor Week

2019-09-04T00:00:00+02:00

This Arbor week, our volunteers have been busy planting an oxygen garden - yes you read correctly - a real-life oxygen garden. To be specific, our oxygen garden consists of cuttings from the very humble and way under-rated Spekboom.

Why the hype?

Well first things first, it has edible leaves, jam-packed with Vitamin C. Some high-end restaurants in the Mother City (Cape Town) has even included this unique delicatessen to their menus. It's a very resilient shrub, meaning they're easy to plant and they have a means of thriving in water-scarce regions, offering solace and some splashes of green in often barren landscapes. Environmentalists also claim that this wonder plant can rehabilitate and prohibit erosion when planted... already three amazing reasons to add this to your 'must-plant list'.

So just when you started thinking 'wow, this plant is pretty amazing', we can assure you - it gets way better!

It is an answer (perhaps not the only answer) but an answer to fighting climate change!

This carbon-eating shrub can capture 4 tonnes of carbon dioxide per year per hectare planted. This amazing trait makes this magician-of-plant more effective at carbon dioxide management than the Amazon Forest. Though every effort must go toward protecting the Amazon Forest, being in the news a lot recently for large scale burns and deforestation, we would be naive to rely solely on it as the Earths lungs.

The low-key looking bush with its round, succulent leaves, can reach an age of up to 200 years, is especially good at photosynthesis (turning sunlight into plant food), which produces a byproduct our lives depend on: OXYGEN.

So let's stand back and reflect.

Spekboom is edible, literally catches Carbon Dioxide, works on Solar power to create Oxygen, restores the soil it is planted in AND doesn't need any other resource than space and natural rainfall...

The Math:

Spekboom + Sunlight = Oxygen

Spekboom + Carbon Dioxide = Oxygen

Spekboom + Erosion = No Erosion

Spekboom = Food supply

Thank you to our hard-working vollies for their hard work in helping us fight climate change!

Madiba Day 2019

2019-07-18T00:00:00+02:00

Our Wild Animal Volunteers- WAV reached out to a local school with some new school supplies (sponsored by the volunteers and PNA - Colour your World), a few soccer balls (sponsored by some kind hearts), and yummy cupcakes (sponsored by Karoobrou Koffie Restaurant).

Thank YOU, our remarkable volunteers, who made a very special group of school kids' day (even month). Thank you for the MUCH-NEEDED stationary donations, for the time you spent there and more so for giving them your hearts today.

We spent some time colouring a tiger picture, lots and lots of playing and helping them get on a well-deserved sugar high!

It’s a ring-tailed conspiracy!

2019-06-06T00:00:00+02:00

Sadly, that is why our beautiful and beloved Tilly recently found herself in a bit of a predicament with her family in our Lemur Falls enclosure. Unfortunately, she did not get along with her relatives and had to be removed from the group to prevent serious injuries. Though they come across as cute and sweet when in fight mode, they can pack a serious bite!

Since then, Tilly had been living in our Animal Care Centre where she received her daily care, attention, and enrichment from the animal care team and our dedicated Wild Animal Volunteers. Though we’ve done everything possible, it was clear that she still dearly missed her own kind. Not just lemurs as a species, but lemurs as kindred spirits; someone to understand her for the lovely yet leery lemur that she is.

As we are an accredited zoological facility (*see accreditation below), finding her an alternative home meant looking for another facility who displays the same standards and accreditations. This meant that our animal care team had to deliberate and search high and low for the perfect solution for Tilly.

One sunshiny day, Esther from Butterfly World Zoo in Stellenbosch reached out to us about Tilly as she was aware of Tilly’s exile from her group. Butterfly World Zoo recently received a small conspiracy of ring-tailed lemurs, with a common goal - to contribute towards the conservation and education efforts of organizations assisting in the battle against habitat destruction of Madagascan lemurs. After dotting all the i’s and crossing all the t’s, Narinda, (Zoological Director at Cango Wildlife Ranch) agreed to send Tilly to Butterfly World.

“We have been checking in often and Tilly has settled in well at Butterfly World Zoo. Her new friends are still only neighbors because she needs to get to know them, and vice versa, before they can safely share a home. Our hopes are that she puts forward her best tail stripes and forms part of a brand-new family she can call her own. We will, of course, keep close contact and base all future decisions on her happiness and well-being but for now, all is very well!” ~ Cango Animal Team.

Part of successful animal care is being able to network with other like-minded organizations that operate at high standards. Co-operation allows us to ensure that we always have our animals best interests at heart.

The ‘Tilly Conspiracy’ may very well have a Part 2 on the way… who knows it may even be titled the ‘Tilly love Story’?!

Help us to keep helping animals just like Tilly!

Adopt or Donate

* Accredited by PAAZA or the Pan-African Association of Zoo’s and Aquaria and members of WAZA, the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums

Spay-a-Thon | Volunteers make the local news

2018-06-17T00:00:00+02:00

Volunteering by Janet Tootil

2018-04-03T00:00:00+02:00

The love and care and consideration they show to these animals in a captive environment to enhance and expand the knowledge of every visitor is boundless - from the facility zoological director to the groundsmen to the animal food prep kitchen. They understand that the animals are not their of their own free will and cater to their needs each and every day and it shows in the animals. They are content, in excellent condition and a delight to visit. I cannot praise them enough.

Their encounter programme seeks to extend the interaction with carefully selected ambassador animals to enhance the bond we feel with them and to make us want to conserve them all the more from the rapacious world we live in. We owe it to future generations.

The programme is highly ethical - if the animals show ANY signs of distress the programme is suspended until they are feeling better. Meeting the lemurs, the serval, all the cheetahs even the snake and Tegu lizard are privileges. Part of the volunteer programme is to assist with the encounters. The sheer joy, emotion, heart racing moments the visitors experienced touched me beyond belief and made me realise just how lucky I was to participate in the programme.

It isn't all cuddly bits - we cleaned out the Lemur Falls river, you clean their enclosures and make their enrichment items - which can be less than fragrant! - to engage their minds and provide fascinating experiences within themselves.

I enjoyed every moment of my 6 weeks volunteering. I am 60 and would do it again in a heartbeat.
Thank you to all from the bottom of my heart.

Wrote on TripAdvisor

Wildlife Volunteer as told by Alex Cribbin

2017-11-07T00:00:00+02:00

Thanks so much for sharing!

For your tireless efforts into making this volunteering programme as incredible as it is!

2017-11-01T00:00:00+02:00

I just wanted to leave you all a wee note, marking you all for your tireless efforts into making this volunteering programme as incredible as it is! From witnessing the passion and fantastic care that each and every member at Cango put into the welfare of the animals each day, is truly inspiring, and has made my experience beyond worthwhile! I am so thankful to have been allowed the opportunity to work alongside such talented people, and shall try my best to educate others and pass on the message of the plight, that many of the animals face!

Not only has this experience been a very educational one in respect to all the amazing animals, but also an incredible adventure! The energy and dedication that goes into the volunteers from the WAV Hosts, has made this an unforgettable experience! From skydiving for the first time, to walking with elephants, has all only been possible because of you guys, to which I really appreciate and am so grateful to be a part of this wonderful family! Each and every aspect of the last 3 weeks has truly been incredible, and I cannot thank you enough for the warmth, great hospitality and kindness shown by each and every one of you! Please know that you are all more than welcome in Scotland!

Thank you for making this a truly incredible experience, lots of love.

Kats X

WAV’s take part in Oudtshoorn’s first ever two-day spay-a-thon!

2017-05-31T00:00:00+02:00

It’s no secret that Cango Wildlife Ranch and our Wild Animal Volunteers absolutely love animals of all shapes and sizes and what a better way to show it than to take part in a local Spay-a-thon of over 100 animals 23 & 24 May 2017.

Dr. Catherine-Anne Fox, Oudtshoorn's State Veterinarian, made her consultation rooms available for the Spay-a-thon. The Animal Care Team (ACT) and Oudtshoorn Volunteers for Animals have held fundraisers since April 2016 to raise R40 000 for this event. Vanessa Engelbrecht, Chairman of ACT, took on this incredible initiative that will have a long-term positive effect on our community. Vanessa gave credit to the WAV’s saying, “The volunteers of Cango Wildlife Ranch kept watch over all the animals as they woke up from anesthesia, making sure that every single one of them came around whilst comfortable and calm. There was also a team that helped to shave the hair of the animals before surgery."

The dogs and cats came from farms around Oudtshoorn as well as Rose Valley and other parts of town. ACT discussed the plans with the owners of the animals who signed permission to allow the procedures to take place. Many of the dog and cat owners simply cannot afford to pay for any kind of procedure of this nature, and many are not equipped with the knowledge as to why it is necessary. Again, this is the vital role that ACT serves, educating animal-owners. A dedicated team of vets processed the 100 sterilizations over the two days, and needless to say were exhausted but satisfied with the outcome. The selected animals were taken to the municipal impound after their operation and were then returned to their owners on Wednesday and Thursday. There were more dogs than cats because cats were taken to veterinarians almost every week by Lee-Ann van Sittert and Elmarie Leach-Swiegers to be sterilized.

The single most important thing that we can do to save cats and dogs from all the suffering and death that their overpopulation causes is to spay and neuter them. Spaying and neutering are routine surgeries that can prevent thousands of animals from being born, only to suffer and struggle to survive on the streets, be abused by cruel or neglectful people, or be euthanized in animal shelters for lack of a loving home.

Spaying and neutering makes a huge difference: Just one unaltered female dog and her offspring can produce 67,000 puppies in only six years. In seven years, one female cat and her offspring can produce an incredible 370,000 kittens!

The Spay-a-thon was a great success and our WAV’s had a great time helping these furry fellas out. We definitely hope to assist in future Spay-a-thons and various other community projects that aid in the care and health of animals. A big well done to our WAV’S who participated in the event and a massive congratulations to Vanessa Engelbrecht and the Animal Care Team as well as every Vet and volunteer that made the event possible. It was an honour to be able to assist.

Volunteering, as told by Jenny Mazliyah

2017-01-30T00:00:00+02:00

Video by Jenny Mazliyah

Being Volunteer on Cango Wildlife Ranch in Oudtshoorn

2017-01-10T00:00:00+02:00

The Cango Wildlife Ranch is privately owned and therefore does not receive government benefits. This means that it can only exist because of the public support and the help of volunteers. All the staff members are very busy every day making sure that everything is in check, but they always make it known to us as volunteers that our assistance is appreciated and keep us informed about everything consisting the animals.

The usual tasks of a volunteer on the Ranch mostly consist of feeding the animals, helping to clean the enclosures, bonding with the animals and giving them enrichement. Enrichement means to make a difference to the animals livelihood by providing them with choices that they would normally have in their wild environment, as well as allowing them to interact with something new that makes them think outside of the box.

This enrichment is the main aspect of our work and involves all the volunteers building tunnels for the cheetahs to explore, making ice lollies for the tigers on hot days, and placing palm leaves for the lemurs to search for fruits in. As well as this we construct ramps out of wood for the meerkats (Betty and Bambam) to use and give feathersticks to the otter (Speckles), carakels (Caesar and Cleo) and foxes (Batman, Foxtrott and Foxtrail), to name only a few examples.

Whilst the process of making these kinds of enrichement can sometimes be mundane or senseless - after you maybe just have finished your seventh tunnel for the week - , the happiness see and feel when for instance, a cheetah has made it through the tunnel, Bambam ran over the ramp or the lemur has found his fruits between all the palm leaves, it definitely makes the hard work worth it. The volunteers truly know that they have made the animals' day. This contributes to one of the main goals of the Wildlife Ranch, that is to give each animal the best quality of life as possible in captivity.
After our time here we really feel like we and all the other volunteers have had an impact in creating a better future for conservation. We have been able to become a part of improving the animals overall quality of life and so we hope that you will give the Cango Wildlife Ranch the support that it deserves.

Christina Bakowski (20, from Germany) and Annie Affleck (17, from Australia), Anntina Bakleck (18, from Austria)

If you would also like to send us a testimonial, we would appreciate it so much!

Helen - info@wildanimalvolunteers.com