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In the quaint village of Howick, a significant conservation effort is helping rewrite the future for hundreds of South Africa’s tortoises.
FreeMe Wildlife, one of KwaZulu-Natal’s best-known wildlife rehabilitation centres, has a long-running tortoise rehabilitation and release programme that’s tackling a surprisingly massive problem: the number of tortoises being kept illegally, injured, abandoned or removed from the wild.
And the project is growing.
Over the past nine years, FreeMe Wildlife has led a collaborative national initiative focused on the legal and responsible release of tortoises back into suitable wild habitats. Working alongside organisations - including Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, South African National Biodiversity Institute, the NSPCA, Department of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment, The Bateleurs, and many more - the team has already completed multiple successful tortoise releases across the country.
But getting a tortoise back into the wild is a lot more complicated than simply opening a gate.
“Tortoises come into our care under various circumstances, including confiscations, surrenders, escaped pets, vehicle injuries and attacks by domestic animals,” explains FreeMe Wildlife Centre Manager Elishia Goosen. “Once they arrive, they go through a rigorous process that includes quarantine periods, regular health checks, DNA testing and veterinary clearance before any permits for release can even be considered.”
Because of the growing demand, FreeMe Wildlife has continued expanding its facilities. The centre currently has six permanent tortoise enclosures, with two more under construction thanks to support from A Rocha South Africa and the Taeuber Management Trust. Long-term, the goal is to build at least another 10 enclosures.
More to the story than just tortoises
Every year, FreeMe Wildlife admits between 1,000 and 2,000 animals spanning nearly 200 indigenous and ToPs (Threatened or Protected) species, from tiny doves and bats to servals and vultures. The organisation rehabilitates all wildlife with minimal human interaction to ensure animals remain wild and capable of surviving once released.
That’s why the centre isn’t open to the public. Instead, the focus is firmly on rehabilitation, rescue and conservation education through social media and outreach.
How you can help
As an NPO, FreeMe Wildlife relies heavily on public support to continue its work. Here are a few ways locals can get involved:
- Donate directly through the organisation’s Donation Page
- Join the Custodianship Programme with various monthly support tiers
- Volunteer (strict requirements apply, including rabies and tetanus vaccinations)
- Leave a Legacy bequest to FreeMe
- Buy wildlife-focused goods from the FreeMe Shop
Keep updated
- FreeMe Wildlife on Instagram
- FreeMe Wildlife on Facebook
- FreeMe Wildlife on YouTub
- FreeMe Wildlife on LinkedIn
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