Side-striped jackals savedto be released
The Wild and Free Rehabilitation Centre joined forces with Nkomazi Nature Conservation and started the process of soft releasing two side-striped jackals in Lionspruit through the whole of October.
With collaboration from the Nkomazi Nature Conservation’s manager, Velly Makwakwa, and his team, Dr Hayden Cuthill (wildlifevets.com), Gerrie Camacho (MTPA) and the Wild and Free volunteers, the process went smoothly.
The side-striped jackals arrived at Wild and Free on October 26 as little pups.
They were confiscated from a poacher by Chris Hobkirk of the MTPA. The man was trying to sell the pups at a petrol station adjacent to the MTPA offices.
Hobkirk immediately impounded the pups, but the “seller” managed to run away. The puppies were only one month old and severely dehydrated. Upon arrival at Wild and Free, Dr Peet Venter examined them and was able to rehydrate them. They made a full recovery and grew in leaps and bounds.
The Aspinall Foundation paid for a collar and vet fees for darting, examination and transport to their new home in Lionspruit. A second collar was donated by Garry Howitt.
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Deidré Joubert, the managing director and founding member of Wild and Free, thanked everybody involved.
“They say it takes a village to raise a child. Well, it takes a couple of very dedicated organisations and concerned citizens to raise a pair of side-striped jackals! By everybody working together, this is the only way we will be able to save our rare species for generations to come.
“They will be released from their temporary enclosure once the Lowveld has had good rain and food is aplenty. They will continue receiving support feed until they can hunt on their own. The Marloth Rangers will monitor their movements using VHS trackers and keep a close eye on them.
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This was the first release for a rehab centre in Lionspruit, and Wild and Free can’t wait to work closely with the Nkomazi Local Municipality on future releases.
Thank you to all the organisations and individuals that made this release a reality!”
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