Hot Cares Christmas helps Wild Heart Foundation rebuild after storm devastation
For the team at Wild Heart Foundation, every day is a race against time — rescuing, rehabilitating and protecting vulnerable wildlife until each animal is strong enough to return to the wild. But nothing could have prepared them for the storm that tore through their sanctuary this year, leaving a trail of devastation across the property.
A massive tree with two trunks came crashing down, destroying water pipes, cutting electricity and collapsing directly onto the rehabilitation centre’s cages. With only moments to spare, the team had to rush into enclosures and pull animals out before the tree completely gave way. “We had literally a couple of minutes to get into the enclosures and move all the animals out,” they recalled — a terrifying scramble that could have ended in tragedy.
The storm wiped out the natural shade protecting the animals, crushed enclosures, and damaged the vegetation the wildlife relies on for food and shelter. At the same time, baby season had just begun, with tiny neonate bush babies needing hourly feeding. Without backup power, solar, or even basic communication tools, the pressure mounted daily. “We’re stretched very thin at the moment,” they admitted.
Hot Cares Christmas knew this sanctuary needed urgent support.
That’s why the Hot Cares team arrived with a trailer filled with essentials: gas canisters, solar lights, shade sails, mesh wire, plants, compost, animal feed — even laptops, tablets, phones and a projector to help them launch their long-dreamed-of training centre. Then came the final reveal: a generator for clinic operations and a financial contribution to assist with repairs and labour.
In total, Hot Cares Christmas delivered support to the value of R250,000.
Overwhelmed, the Wild Heart team said, “This is the very first time that we feel somebody sees what we are doing. It means the world.”
Because at Christmas, restoring hope is what matters most.