SPCAs get owl boxes in Mandela Day drive
In honour of Mandela Day 2025, EcoSolutions and Owlproject.org donated owl boxes to seven Gauteng SPCA branches, including Kempton Park, to promote eco-friendly rodent control and support wildlife conservation.
In celebration of Mandela Day 2025, EcoSolutions and Owlproject.org donated and installed owl boxes at seven SPCA branches across Gauteng, including the Kempton Park SPCA.
The initiative honours Nelson Mandela’s legacy through a project rooted in environmental sustainability, wildlife protection, and support for the ongoing work of the SPCA.
The collaboration between EcoSolutions, Owlproject.org, and the SPCA dates back to the early 2000s, with a shared commitment to ethical wildlife management that benefits both local communities and natural ecosystems.
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“We appreciate the efforts and partnership,” said SPCA spokesperson Richman Sibande.
“We would be glad to do more initiatives with both organisations, especially tree planting, as we don’t have many trees around our premises.”
Each owl box donated through the campaign is being professionally installed by the EcoSolutions team.
The goal is twofold: to provide safe nesting sites for owls and to encourage natural, poison-free rodent control.
Owls are highly effective predators, capable of consuming thousands of rodents annually. Their presence reduces the need for harmful chemicals and pesticides.
ALSO READ: Gauteng SPCAs get owl boxes to boost natural rodent control
Sibande noted that the installation comes at a perfect time.
“No more rats in our food storage container,” he said with a smile.
The project aligns with recent developments in South African wildlife policy, including a national ban on widely used rodenticides
.These poisons, though effective at killing rodents, often cause fatal secondary poisoning in non-target species like owls, which eat contaminated prey.
“There’s no such thing as owl-friendly poison,” said Owl Project coordinator Itumeleng Maroga.
“What we put into the ecosystem inevitably works its way up the food chain. Our approach, using nature to balance nature, ensures that predators like owls are protected, not harmed.”
The team behind the initiative hopes to inspire individuals and organisations to make meaningful contributions not just on Mandela Day, but throughout the year.
