Animal Welfare South Africa Project #55883

Help Feed Sick and Injured Wildlife

by Scales Conservation Fund NPC

Project Report | Jul 9, 2024
ReWild Patient Stories

By Amy Aucamp-Clark | Campaign Manager

Nicki

We have several heartwarming stories of perseverance, community, and recovery from our special bat patients. These tiny creatures, often overlooked, have touched our hearts with their resilience. Let's dive into their inspiring journeys.

A Rare Visitor: Schlieffen's Twilight Bat

A unique guest recently graced ReWild with her presence—a Schlieffen's Twilight Bat (Nycticeinops schlieffeni). This little bat, one of the smallest species in southern Africa, found herself indoors after a wrong turn and injured both her wings. Named after Count Wilhelm von Schlieffen-Schlieffenburg, these bats typically roost under protruding bark, in tree crevices, or even man-made structures. They are among the first to venture out hunting at dusk, showcasing their nocturnal prowess.

Our team at ReWild has been providing her with the necessary rest and TLC. We are committed to ensuring she recovers fully before being released back into the wild.

Nicky's Story: A Tale of Community and Compassion

Nicky, a heavily pregnant Little Free-tailed Bat, was discovered on the floor of a local hardware store, likely seeking refuge from the heat. Exhausted and dehydrated, she was brought to ReWild by a vigilant shop employee.

Our team immediately provided Nicky with the care and support she needed. Due to her fragile condition, she will stay under our care until she is strong enough to be released back into the wild. In a heartwarming twist, Nicky is expected to give birth at ReWild, and once her pup is ready to take flight, they will be set free together outside the shop where Nicky was found.

Gabi's Rescue: From Pool to Rehabilitation

Gabi, a Pipistrelle Bat, was found floating in a swimming pool with a broken wing. Using her wings to stay afloat, she endured significant agony. The nearest wildlife rehabilitation center, Moholoholo Wildlife and Rehabilitation Center NPC, took her in for immediate treatment.

After spending the night at Moholoholo, Gabi was transported to ReWild by the kind folks from Bambelela Wildlife Care NPC & Vervet Monkey Rehab. We are grateful for their collaboration, ensuring Gabi received swift treatment. Despite her initial grouchiness, Gabi is healing well and showing her sweet nature. We expect her to make a full recovery and plan to release her in the spring.

Chris's Journey: From Pain to Recovery

Chris, a Little Free-tailed Bat, was found scurrying across a house floor with a severely fractured wing. Believed to have been accidentally caught in a closing door, he hid in the house for days before being discovered.

ReWild provided Chris with emergency fluids, nutritious soft food, and pain medication. He is now feeling much better and will soon undergo surgery to repair his wing fracture. To have any chance of flying again, Chris will need a pin to stabilize the bone for healing and a course of antibiotics to prevent infection.

We extend our deepest gratitude to Moholoholo Wildlife and Rehabilitation Center NPC and Bambelela Wildlife Care NPC & Vervet Monkey Rehab for their invaluable assistance in rescuing and transporting Gabi. These collaborations are vital in ensuring swift treatment and the best chance of survival for our wildlife.

Thank you for supporting ReWild and the incredible work we do to help these magnificent creatures. Stay tuned for more updates in our next report.

Chris

Gabi

Schlieffen's Twilight Bat

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Mar 12, 2024
ReWild Patient Stories

By Amy Aucamp-Clark | Campaign Manager

Shanti

Tiffaney and Spartacus.

Tiffaney was brought to ReWild after she flew into somebody’s home and was caught by their cat. The owner immediately rescued the bat and brought her to the centre. A week later the team received a call from a vet to say they had been notified about a bat lying on the ground outside the local SPAR store. Knowing that it would take over half an hour to get there and that the bat was at risk of a passerby doing him harm, he needed to be rescued fast. They called Jason, Tiffany’s rescuer, who was not far from the SPAR store. Jason raced over to the store and rescued the little bat and kindly brought him to us. He was named Spartacus for obvious reasons. When the team introduced Spartacus to Tiffany they immediately took a shine to each other and have been best friends ever since. The two bats have recently bee weaned off their milk formula onto a diet of insects and they are now ready to begin the first stage of release preparation. Learning to do some short flights in an indoor enclosure before moving to a large outdoor flight enclosure for the final stages of release preparation.

Shanti, a delightful little girl weighing a mere 3g (0.1oz), lighter than a teaspoon of sugar. She is a juvenile Banana bat and, surprisingly, has already reached her adult size. Despite her small stature, Banana bats are insectivorous and do not consume bananas; however, they often seek refuge in furled-up banana leaves, giving them their name. Shanti was discovered on the ground beneath the palm tree where she and her family typically roost. Birds pose a threat to bats as tiny as Shanti, and there is suspicion that a bird may have dropped her just before her rescue. Shanti's body bears bruises, as well as holes and injuries to her wings. Fortunately, the holes in her wings are expected to heal rapidly, as the wing membrane of a bat is one of the fastest-healing mammalian tissues. Despite experiencing discomfort, Shanti displays a healthy appetite, a positive sign that leads the team to anticipate her full recovery.

Corvid, the Angolan Free-tailed bat with nine lives! Less than a kilometre from ReWild, Corvid found himself in a tough spot – thin and weak, with a pair of crows trying to finish him off. Angolan Free-tailed bats are one of our bigger species of insectivorous bats and have strong jaws and sharp teeth for crunching through hard insect exoskeletons. Corvid was not going to let the crows take him without a fight. Despite his valiant fight, the crows, being much larger, seemed to have the upper hand.

In a stroke of luck, Faunce, on her way back to ReWild, spotted the struggle. Two crows were attempting to carry off a small, flapping creature – Corvid. Without hesitation, she intervened, rescuing Corvid from his desperate situation. Now, Corvid, though a bit bruised with open wounds, a wing tear, and a broken finger, is on the road to recovery. Thanks to timely intervention, he received life-saving emergency fluids, wound treatment, a hearty dinner, and a cozy rest in a soft fleecy pouch. With some time to rest and heal, Corvid is expected to make a full recovery and will soon be released back into the wild.

A recent heatwave brought an unexpected influx of bats to ReWild! Among them, a group of 9 adorable Cape Serotine bat pups. While more than just 9 were found, some were joyfully reunited with their mothers, while others sadly didn't make it. Despite the challenges, these resilient little bats have adapted beautifully. They've already begun stretching their wings, building the muscles necessary for taking flight. Currently, they're comfortably settling in, but as they grow a bit more, they'll transition to an indoor flight enclosure. This phase will help them grasp the basics of flight before they embark on the final leg of their journey in the expansive outdoor flight enclosure, until they are ready to be released.

Your support means the world to us as we guide these precious bats toward their ultimate goal: a successful release back into the wild.

Ollie, a tiny Little free-tailed bat pup! Found on the ground, every effort to reunite him with his mother was made, but, unfortunately, his mom never returned to fetch him. Now, Ollie has found a safe haven at his new temporary home at @ReWild, where he's not only settled in but is thriving under their specialist care. As Ollie continues to mature, he will embark on a journey of preparation for release into the wild. The dedicated team will guide him through the necessary steps in their customized Free-tail flight enclosure, where he'll acquire all the essential skills needed for a successful return to his natural habitat.

Tiffaney and Spartacus

Corvid

9 Cape Serotine Bat Pups

Ollie

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Nov 13, 2023
ReWild Patient Stories

By Amy Aucamp-Clark | Campaign Manager

Nando & Fern

In recent undertakings, we experienced the absolute delight of setting free a Bearded Woodpecker back into its natural surroundings,

marking the triumphant conclusion of its rehabilitation journey at ReWild. This resilient avian friend sought our assistance after colliding with a glass sliding door, resulting in a shoulder injury. Over two months, our dedicated team nurtured him back to well-being, leaving his unique mark on our aviary—a testament to woodpeckers' unmistakable traits. Celebrated for their captivating attributes, woodpeckers wield an impressive tongue for extracting insects from tree crevices. Despite the little fella's tweaks to our aviary, reflecting his woodpecker identity, we feel privileged to have played a role in his return to the wild, highlighting the enduring resilience and distinctive qualities of these avian wonders.

Reflecting on the passage of time, it feels like just the other day when our hand-raised animals were little fluff balls needing frequent milk feeds. Now, they've grown up and established their territories. Tanya, pictured below, holds her territory with two other hand-raised orphans, Mitch and Hayley. Monitoring them post-release informs us about the success of our preparation methods, and looking at Tanya, her belly size hints at the prospect of her soon raising her own babies.

With the arrival of spring comes the first babies of the breeding season. Meet Nando, the adorable little boy, and Fern, the slightly older female. Nando's early life is shrouded in mystery, found without his mother. Fern's story is tinged with sadness, discovered alongside her deceased mother. Despite different backgrounds, these two orphaned baby Tree squirrels quickly formed an inseparable bond, finding solace and joy in each other's presence. Hand-raised with care, their goal is to prepare them for life in the wild, showcasing the enduring friendship formed during their early days.

An incredible story unfolds with a Pied Crow at ReWild, found with a left-wing injury. Initially bleak, the vet's prognosis suggested it might never soar the skies again. Despite the challenges, the dedicated team at ReWild believed in a glimmer of hope for recovery. This resilient crow has made a remarkable and complete recovery, and just last week, the team had the privilege of releasing it back into the wild, witnessing its graceful flight—a truly heartwarming sight of resilience and success.

Bearded Woodpecker

Tanya

Pied Crow

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