Unique Moot rescue survives lockdown
They offer a safe haven for unwanted, abused and neglected chinchillas, squirrel-sized rodents native to South America.
A unique animal shelter in the Moot has made it despite problems presented by lockdown.
“The immediate impact of the rescue was of course the restriction of movement,” said Danie Delport of Chinchilla Magic in Mayville.
Delport offers a safe haven for unwanted, abused and neglected chinchillas, squirrel-sized rodents native to South America.
“We have a little group of friends that helps us with getting chinchillas in need from other places to me,” he explained.
“This became impossible. Our sterilisation drive also stopped during level 5 and the most part of level 4 because nobody knew what was allowed.”
He said about a month into lockdown, people started contacting him to try and sell him their chinchillas for ridiculous prices.
“As situations became desperate, prices dropped,” he said.
“We can take them in and care for them if people surrender them, but we cannot afford to pay for them and it will set a precedent we do not want anyway.”
However, Delport said with level 3 this decreased, while people contacted him about health issues caused by malnutrition such as the wrong diet.
Cases of underfed animals increased.
READ MORE: Moot unique safe haven starts sterilisation drive
“The situation here was frustrating because I felt helpless and could do nothing to help those chinchillas in need,” he said.
“Other than that, we prepared for lockdown so well that the animals never needed anything.”
Delport said his military experience helped him to see what was coming long before lockdown was announced.
“I started preparing everything for the animals and planned for an initial isolation of three months.
“The big bonus was that we have been using our new chinchilla feed for about eight months by then, so I knew how much to make and stockpile.”
He said just before lockdown all the “regulars” bought supplies.
“Only a week into lockdown people started contacting us because they could not get chinchilla feed,” he said.
“It was nice to be able to keep helping and to help unknown people during level 5 and 4.”
He said having everything in place and being so well prepared was the most positive part of lockdown.
READ MORE: Wollies celebrates seven year of serving the animals
“There was absolutely no impact on the chinchillas in my care. For them, it was life as normal,” he said.
“What I did appreciate was the extra moral support from our group during all this, not only for me but also for each other.
“Our chinchilla support group doubled as a lockdown support group and it was amazing to see chinchilla owners helping each other and me.”
Now, at level 3, everything is almost back to normal, Delport said.
“Enough people are allowed to travel so we are able to and have been getting chinchillas,” he said.
“We are sterilising again, but much less due to much less funds. Our feed and hay are delivered to us and we survived the worst part without any problems here.”
Do you have more information about the story? Please send us an email to editorial@rekord.co.za or phone us on 083 625 4114.
For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord’s websites:
For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram
