OUR WILDLIFE AMBASSADORS
They all have a unique story, we are here to tell them.
Vasha
White-Backed Vulture
Vasha was observed around Fuller Forest for months in poor condition. We were unable to catch her until one day she landed in front of our reception in very poor condition. At such a weak state we were able to capture her, it was touch-and-go for 3 days while we tried feeding her to get her energy up. After successfully getting her through the toughest days, the local wildlife vet assessed her and determined her wing was beyond repair - we still don't know what happened to it. They decided to amputate it meaning she no-longer can fly and cannot be released.
About
Gyps africanus
Conservation
Vultures often get a bad reputation and are perceived as lowly scavengers, but they play a crucial role in the environments in which they live. Known as ‘nature’s clean-up crew’, these scavengers do the dirty work of cleaning up after death, helping to keep ecosystems healthy and providing significant socioeconomic value to local communities.
Milo
Banded Mongoose
Milo was tiny when he was found abandoned in someones garden in Victoria Falls town. We monitored him for a day to ensure he was definitely abandoned. After determining that the family was not coming back for him, we took him in and raised him. Banded mongooses are social animals and he cannot be released without a family, we are hoping one day we can put him together with other banded mongooses.
About
Mungos mungo
Conservation
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Udubo
Brown Hyena
Udubo - meaning trouble in Ndebele - was deemed a problem animal in a reserve in Zimbabwe. He was causing problems around a compound where people lived, showing up at 3-4pm in the afternoon and watching people - this is very abnormal behaviour and caused a lot of fear. They attempted to put him down three times without success and luckily they agreed to let us capture him. We relocated him to our sanctuary, at the moment we are looking at options for him if he can be relocated back into the wild, or if he is deemed too much of a problem animal then he will stay at the sanctuary.
About
Parahyaena brunnea
Conservation
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Tsoko
Vervet Monkey
How Tsoko came to us.
About
Chlorocebus pygerythrus
Conservation
Despite being categorised of Least Concern by IUCN, vervet populations are declining due to a number of threats.
Vervets frequently come into conflict with humans. They are considered vermin due to their affinity for crop raiding and are therefore often shot, poisoned, or trapped. Additionally, vervets are killed for bushmeat in some areas, and their orphaned infants captured for the illegal exotic pet trade. In Victoria Falls town many of them are victims of car accidents.
Caesar
Crowned Eagle
Caesar came from the Lowveld of Zimbabwe where he was found on the ground. He came to us via a Falconer in Harare. He had a damaged wing, missing a back talon (vital for hunting) and his one eye was milky. His feathers were also in a very bad state.
He has now recovered but unfortunately will never fully recover due to his missing back talon and inability to fly well. He therefore cannot be released back into the wild.
About
Stephanoaetus coronatus
Conservation
The crowned eagle are one of the most beautiful raptors and formidable hunters, with its talons the “crowing glory” of this commanding predator.
This particular species is threatened by trapping, shooting and nest destruction due to wildlife-human conflict and habitat destruction from trees being cut or forests being felled which makes it extremely difficult for this animal to find food.
Scar, Mthakathi, Ndofa
Spotted Hyena
Due to overpopulation of spotted hyenas in a reserve in Zimbabwe, the future of these three was uncertain. A culling plan for the reserve was in place due to increased pressure of human-wildlife conflict in the area, because of the overpopulation, and we offered a forever home to them.
As these three hyenas were raised by hyenas that were classed as problem animals due to human-wildlife conflict, they cannot be released back into the wild due to learned behaviours, and the potential of conflict arising again.
About
Crocuta crocuta
Conservation
Often given a bad reputation, spotted hyenas are gorgeous creatures with intricate social systems. Human-wildlife conflict is the biggest threat to all wild hyena, as they are often killed if deemed a threat to livestock. According to the African Wildlife Foundation, snares alone kill around 400 adult hyena every year.
With our three ambassadors, we hope to changes peoples negative views of these amazing animals.
Kiki (Rafiki)
Chacma Baboon
Kiki was found abandoned in a drainage pipe in Victoria Falls town. She was very weak and had a huge wound on her arm that was in bad shape. We believe she could have been attacked by another baboon and left behind in the commotion. She is still very young and is best friends with our Vervet Monkey, Tsoko.
About
Papio ursinus
Conservation
The Chacma Baboon have intricate social behaviours, including a dominance hierarchy, collective foraging, adoption of young by females, and friendship pairings. Chacma Baboons live in social groups called troops, which can consist of up to 100 individuals led by a dominant male. These intelligent creatures have a diverse diet, feeding on fruits, leaves, insects and even small animals.
In general, the species is not threatened, but human population pressure has increased contact between humans and baboons causing the populations to become persecuted and treated as pest.
OZZY
SPOTTED EAGLE OWL
Ozzy was brought in when his sibling was predated down near the waterhole in front of reception. He was raised to adulthood.
He has spent 6 weeks in the wild and then came back and went into his pen. Our intentions are to release him as soon as there is more foliage on the trees prey availability increases in the warmer weather.
About
Papio ursinus
Conservation
The Chacma Baboon have intricate social behaviours, including a dominance hierarchy, collective foraging, adoption of young by females, and friendship pairings. Chacma Baboons live in social groups called troops, which can consist of up to 100 individuals led by a dominant male. These intelligent creatures have a diverse diet, feeding on fruits, leaves, insects and even small animals.
In general, the species is not threatened, but human population pressure has increased contact between humans and baboons causing the populations to become persecuted and treated as pest.
PEREGRINE FALCONS
BREEDING PROGRAM
The Peregrines are part of the Zimbabwe Falconers Club captive breeding programme. The American Peregrine Fund initiated and sponsored this programme at the start up. It was started when peregrines were under threat because of the use of toxic pesticides in Zimbabwe.
I also fly a captive bred peregrine from this programme to help with awareness of their plight in the wild.
About
Papio ursinus
Conservation
The Chacma Baboon have intricate social behaviours, including a dominance hierarchy, collective foraging, adoption of young by females, and friendship pairings. Chacma Baboons live in social groups called troops, which can consist of up to 100 individuals led by a dominant male. These intelligent creatures have a diverse diet, feeding on fruits, leaves, insects and even small animals.
In general, the species is not threatened, but human population pressure has increased contact between humans and baboons causing the populations to become persecuted and treated as pest.
FLAME, GLORIA, MARULA
OSTRICH
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About
Papio ursinus
Conservation
The Chacma Baboon have intricate social behaviours, including a dominance hierarchy, collective foraging, adoption of young by females, and friendship pairings. Chacma Baboons live in social groups called troops, which can consist of up to 100 individuals led by a dominant male. These intelligent creatures have a diverse diet, feeding on fruits, leaves, insects and even small animals.
In general, the species is not threatened, but human population pressure has increased contact between humans and baboons causing the populations to become persecuted and treated as pest.
LIONS
AFRICAN LION
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About
Papio ursinus
Conservation
The Chacma Baboon have intricate social behaviours, including a dominance hierarchy, collective foraging, adoption of young by females, and friendship pairings. Chacma Baboons live in social groups called troops, which can consist of up to 100 individuals led by a dominant male. These intelligent creatures have a diverse diet, feeding on fruits, leaves, insects and even small animals.
In general, the species is not threatened, but human population pressure has increased contact between humans and baboons causing the populations to become persecuted and treated as pest.