Saving wild animals in need of help can become an emotionally demanding job and if one's success depends solely on donor funding that can be successfully raised, the outcome of rescue operations becomes an overriding emotional need. That is possibly the reason why success stories are so important to our staff and the individuals supporting us. SanWild has had many success stories over the last couple of years, but there are always certain animals that take up a special place in one's heart - especially if their path to recovery has been slow and difficult and it is our great pleasure to share the story of some of these very special animals with you.

THE BAIXINHIA MEMORY PAGE “The Pretty One” Forever in our hearts.

How does one share your life with an aging black rhino female – especially one that has proved to love people dearly and an animal who in her old age was deserted and almost ended up as a trophy on a hunter’s wall. Read more about the “Pretty One” on our special memory page.

CATS RESCUE CENTRE

In 2003 the SanWild Wildlife Trust set up a large predator holding facility with funding obtained from a United Kingdom charity. The Cats’ Rescue Centre was completed in October 2003 and the first group of lions rescued from the canned lion breeding and hunting industry arrived in November 2003. The animals had been confiscated by the conservation authorities in Limpopo Province from a game farmer and lion breeder that brought the animals into the province to set up a breeding project to supply captive bred lions to trophy hunters. The SanWild Wildlife Trust at the time reached an agreement with the Department of Environmental Affairs, Economic Development and Tourism to build a temporary holding facility for confiscated predators. In return the Trust asked for the right to ensure the animals long-term welfare after court cases had been finalized by being involved in finding suitable homes for the animals.

TELEVISION DOCUMENTARIES

From time to time we have been approached by television production companies to work with them and allow the filming of emergency animal rescues and rehabilitation. Obviously we are keen to help where possible to educate and teach people especially where misconceptions exist with regard to many wild animals like brown hyenas for example.

Where documentaries do not interfere with our rehabilitation techniques and where animals are not compromised or expected to act in any unnatural way, we have agreed to work with a small number of production companies and allow SanWild's work to be filmed. We are proud to be associated internationally with Strawberry Film Productions, Arden Entertainment and Natural History New Zealand.

EMERGENCY RESCUES

SanWild's emergency rescue team have responded to calls for help for a wide range of animal species. Our team consists of experts in their respective fields. Team members include specialist wildlife veterinarians, game capture and relocation companies and helicopter pilots. We always respond to call outs - irrespective of the animals value or species. Where a wild animal needs help we will where humanly possible, respond immediately. It is our pleasure to share some of these emergency rescues with you.

The Thukela Elephants

In 2006, SanWild in conjunction with a coalition of animal and environmental protection organizations and individuals took on a massive animal rescue project to save a small herd of African elephants from a culling operation. After being tipped off about the imminent culling operation SanWild and Animal Rights Africa arranged a stay of execution while a safe haven for the elephants was found.

That safe haven is SanWild - a wildlife sanctuary in Limpopo Province, well known for rescuing otherwise doomed African animals.

A re-location operation was launched to save the elephants and a highly competent game capture relocation team was contracted to ensure that the Thukela Elephants arrived safely at their new home. Click to read about this complex, dangerous and highly emotional rescue operation.