Bush girl at heart finds home at Crow

Born and raised in Johannesburg, the 24-year-old admitted that she didn’t quite fit in her hometown as she was and is a bush girl at heart. “I love being out in nature and I knew it was a real passion if I could grow up in the city and still love the bush. Every chance and moment I get, I go and spend time there. My grandfather was a farmer and my uncle would always take us on outings to the bush, so I think that’s where the spark was ignited.”

She studied a year in zoology at Rhodes University but discovered it wasn’t really for her as conservation is her real drive. Tegan soon found her element when chose to do a course in nature conservation through Nelson Mandela University. She completed her diploma in nature conservation and her advanced diploma in game ranch management. She has also completed a project management short course.

After completing her undergraduate studies, she worked for Sanctuary Retreats in Botswana as a conservation intern.

“I also did a lot of environmental education with the locals. Through that work, I realised that people are what make the environment work. We are a part of it, not above it. It’s important to build up the interest in nature and the environment in people. You’ve got to re-nurture that connection. I find that very fulfilling which is something I never thought I would enjoy.”

She has also done a lot of volunteer work with various organisations with an ethos of animal and environmental welfare. “The primate side of things has always been an interest of mine. I’ve always loved rehabilitation because it’s very hands-on and you feel like you’re actually doing something. Sometimes when you’re doing the hands-off side off conservation it doesn’t feel like you’re making a difference. I’ve always loved the being done by Crow and have followed the organisation for many years. I’ve always thought that working at a wildlife rehabilitation centre is something I’d really love to do.”

Unable to resist that urge, Tegan sent her CV to Crow on a whim to appeal for any vacancies. Although there were no openings at the time, the stars aligned and she was called in for an interview a few weeks later. As the centre’s primate officer she takes care of all the vervet monkeys and bush babies.

“No one day is the same and these are fascinating creatures. I do not see them as a pet. For me it’s very important to have hands-off approach with all my animals as they must be as wild as possible. Over and above rehabilitation, the biggest thing I want to achieve with this role is to incorporate environmental education. We should be putting a lot more effort into primate conservation and education because they live in urban areas. We’re encroaching on their space and many people don’t see it this way and instead see them as a nuisance. We came to Durban. Monkeys are an intricate part of the ecosystem. The monkeys were always here so it’s important to educate people on this. In this line of work, it’s very hard to see and process cases of injured animals, particularly those that are human-induced. Seeing an animal suffering in pain is the hardest part of my job. But in just over 2 months I’ve really grown into the role a lot and I’m falling in loving what I’m doing. The Crow staff share a mutual passion for animals and we all work well together. The local community is also fantastic and really cares about Crow and the animals,” she shared.

Crow is a Yellowwood Park-based NGO that rescues, rehabilitates and releases injured, orphaned or displaced animals. The centre admits over 3000 animals every year whose injuries and problems are mostly caused by human cruelty or urbanisation. Providing care for these animals is a specialised, dedicated and costly service and as a non-profit and non-governmental organisation, they heavily rely on the generosity of the public to continue their mission to assist wildlife.

Donations can be dropped off at 15A Coedmore Avenue, Yellowwood Park. For more information, call 031 462 1127.