The Kogelberg Biosphere Wildlife Rescue and Training Centre: Michelle Watson
I was lucky enough to receive an attractive WhatsApp from the Betty`s Bay Conservancy (BBC) with the advert to this meeting.
Thanking the BBC, I can express my appreciation for this excellent, informative meeting, ending with delicious tea and eats!
Michelle Watson, who is obviously a lover of nature in general, and specifically wildlife, gave a summary of her involvement with the Kogelberg Wildlife Rescue and Training Centre, backed by well laid out visuals.
In May 2022, she received an invitation from the Kogelberg Biosphere (KB) to run a Wildlife First Aid, Stabilization and Basic Rehabilitation course in Betty’s Bay. She came from Johannesburg to present it and during the course, she was made aware that there was no facility to house rescued animals after the floods and fires that occur in our area.
That was the beginning of a vision and the journey with the KB to try to make such a centre a reality. A possible building was located in the form of the little white “baboon house” near Betty’s Bay garden refuse dump. It was a derelict, empty shell of a building with no water, sanitation or electricity. The community and volunteers rallied to help, and a small miracle emerged as this building took shape. The Centre received its permit from CapeNature in December 2024. It is now the first permitted Wildlife Rescue Centre in the Western Cape.
The official Opening took place on 18 February 2025.
Their working team is Michelle Watson, her brother David, Corlie Hugo, Shannon Fletcher and Danica Matle, a young CapeNature intern.
And lots of enthusiastic and generous volunteers!
The first two patients were two baby Blue cranes that were raised to adulthood, registered and ringed and are now in the data system.
The centre is open to all animals that are injured due to natural events, human abuse and road accidents. The speeding on the R44 on is one of the causes of the many deaths and injuries of wildlife.
The R44 task team is working to address this problem.
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The aim is always to rehabilitate the wildlife to be set free into the environment again. An empty cage is the best cage!
The centre is also an education and training centre and part of a countrywide network for rescue and rehabilitation of wildlife.
Present Requirements and Needs
Funding
Public involvement and awareness and more volunteers to help at the centre
Control of speed on R44 to reduce the deaths and injuries to wildlife
Accommodation for Michelle as soon as possible.
Long term Plans
Continued construction in and around the Centre to enlarge it
Prefab classroom/s for educational purposes.
Funds are required to cover:
Salaries
Medical supplies, food for the wildlife, transport and daily running costs.
Veterinary bills.
The costs of current and future extensions e.g. enclosures and classrooms.
Note: Please put WILDLIFE RESCUE at the reference to ensure the funds go to the Centre. Michelle says that it would help to budget if people consider making a monthly donation to help them.
The centre also requires the following kinds of items for their ongoing daily needs. You can drop these off at the centre or contact Michelle to arrange to fetch them.
Dried mealworms, powdered goats milk, Grains (chico 1, growers meal, poultry mix, wild birdseed)
Old kennels, cat carriers and Tupperware.
Royal Canin Kitty Milk, AD recovery diet, Protexin, F10 Products, supplements such as AVI CAL, CANI-CAL and salmon oil.
Vitamin B,E,K,C, Rescue Remedy, Intrasitegel, Bactroban, Dermavet, antiseptic wound cream.
Savlon, wound spray, activated charcoal in tablet form, ringers lactate,
Sterilizing alcohol cleaner and cotton swabs, cohesive bandages and syringes.
Contact Michelle Watson on 073 3140674
Pip Prinsloo and Carol Clark. Photo credits: Michelle Watson and Carol Clark