Caring for injured baby wildebeest

Caring for injured or orphaned wildlife is a challenge. But with the new facility we are developing much more will be accomplished.

Sadly a baby wildebeest was recently orphaned was injured.

Zebra showing concern for injured baby wildebeest

We located the baby wildebeest in the bush this afternoon and the zebra were around him showing concern. He saw me and came up to me, somehow he knows we are trying to help him and he kept approaching us. We decided to try to hold him by his little horns again, and managed to do so.

The baby was quite docile so I inspected the wound. It needed to be cleaned which we attended to. It was fortunate that we were able to find him, without treatment he would have died an agonizing death. It would have been safer for him to have been homed inside a boma and should it rain, inside a stable.

We were eventually able to home him in a temporary boma but this was an emergency measure – we are now now developing a secure rehab facility.

Temporary canvas boma

We will now establish a safe rehab boma and stable for orphaned and/ or injured wildlife. We also aim to secure timeous professional assistance for future wildlife in need. Any support for this project would be greatly appreciated.

DROUGHT RELIEF APPEAL FOR WILDLIFE

An urgent appeal to all who care: Please support our drought relief appeal Zululand is experiencing the worst drought in 20 years. The entire Province of KZN has been red flagged because of the drought. Rivers have dried up and virtually no rain has fallen during the past months in our area at False Bay Park.

Any amount however big or small towards feeding the wildlife at our Sanctuary would be greatly appreciated. Please click below to donate through PayPal. Thank you for caring!

A bag of game pellets costs R250.00 (18.11 USD)

One bale of Lucerne R105.00 (7.61 USD)

We have been doing our best to help our wildlife through the drought and we have to supplement food for our wildlife in our Sanctuary. There is no longer grazing and very little browsing available. Nyala graze 30% and browse 70% depending on availability of foliage and grass. Wildebeest are bulk grazers and zebra each need 10kg of hay/grass per day. Although we bring in grass from areas where there is no grazing, we now need to supplement this with Lucerne and game pellets. The female antelope that are pregnant especially need more food to tide them through.

Any support you may be able to offer – however big or small – would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you for caring!

Wildlife Orphanage

Animal rescue centre for orphaned or injured young wildlife.

Currently, many orphaned wild animals are left for “nature to take care of herself”, which means that any baby wild animal will surely die being unable to fend for itself.

Our goal is to give orphaned or injured wildlife the care & survival skills needed, so that they can return to the wild

There is a dire need in Maputaland for an animal rescue centre/ wildlife orphanage. Suni-Ridge Sand Forest Park is presently establishing a facility that will provide a haven for rescued and orphaned animals. Support for this will be important as it would only be with those who share our concern that we would be able to establish this important facility.

The project will form part of a community outreach program that will encourage awareness about the protection of wildlife.

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“Silky and her Mom” – a sad Suni-Ridge story

It is essential that we protect our wildlife from poaching and hunting. One might understand the terrible “need” if it was driving by hunger for the poverty-stricken table, but in most cases, it’s because of the bush-meat trade or other profit-driven reason.

If things carry on as they are now, there won’t be any wildlife left to see. This needs to stop.

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Sponsor the KHOLA Campaign

KHOLA is the Zulu word for Believe.

We believe we can make a difference!

The KHOLA Campaign is for people, businesses and organisations who share our belief that wildlife reserves should be bona fide safe havens for wild animals, where they are not used as a resource “for their own protection”.

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“Old Boy” Suni-Ridge’s first territorial zebra stallion poached

“Old Boy” was the first wild zebra stallion at Suni-Ridge. Over the 12-years, he had become quite tame, often coming to the house to visit Janet and Rob Cuthbertson at night.

Below is a copy of the letter that Janet sent to a friend about this tragic event. Further down, you can also read the letter about little KHOLA, the foal that was born after Old Boy’s death. Khola is the inspiration behind the KHOLA Sponsor Ad Campagin. Continue reading→

Wildlife Art for Suni-Ridge

Wildlife Art “Big Five” prints by Janet Cuthbertson

© Wildlife Art "Big Five" prints (set of 5) by Janet Cuthbertson

The prints are on thick import-quality textured paper. 1 of each of the above animal prints are rolled together to form a set of the “Big Five”. This lion below is a closeup and gives you an idea of the quality of the art. Continue reading→

Stay at Leopard Walk Lodge

Leopard Walk Lodge is situated within the Suni-Ridge Sand Forest Park, which is a paradise for nature lovers.

Our Bed & Breakfast accommodation is private and cosy, with two cottages to choose from. Guests are welcome to dine at Leopard Walk Lodge’s restaurant.

Our guests can normally enjoy a relatively close encounter with the wildlife. Trips to nearby “Big-Five” wildlife reserves can also be arranged.

We look forward to welcoming you! Continue reading→

Wildlife Sanctuary

Provide a Sanctuary for Wildlife

It has been well documented that during the past 15 years, the population of large numbers of mammals outside of parks and game reserves has decreased dramatically.

Illegal hunting, the bushmeat trade, expansion of agriculture and urban settlements are the main causes of this trend.

Our aim is to provide a safe haven where wildlife is protected from being utilised as a resource for the meat trade, hunting or breeding.

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Suni Antelope and Red Data Species at Suni-Ridge

Suni Antelope are found in our Wildlife Sanctuary

From huge to small, rare and endangered species enjoy our protection.

A varied selection of animal species (including 8 red data species) are found here. Suni-Ridge Sand Forest Park Environmental Rehabilitation Centre is named in honour of the diminutive Suni Antelope that is found in our sand forest.

Thanks to your generous support, Suni-Ridge is able to provide a wildlife sanctuary, protect the amazing biodiversity in our region, and to increase the awareness among local communitities of the importance to preserve and protect the environment and their natural heritage. Continue reading→

Suni-Ridge Sand Forest Park

During 1991 Janet and Rob Cuthbertson purchased a rundown pineapple farm, which today has been rehabilitated into a beautiful and flourishing wildlife reserve.

Our years of effort have at times been exciting, rewarding and often the challenge has been daunting, but the knowledge that we are giving something back to nature is our most worthwhile reward”. ~ Janet and Rob Cuthbertson

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