One woman’s dream of helping injured wildlife has become a million-rand reality in the Western Cape. Now she is hoping a little South African generosity will help bring it to life.
If you only have a minute, read this: Wild Rescue founder Gill Simpson has spent R1 million of her life savings building a wildlife clinic in the Western Cape to help injured animals. The facility is ready, but it still needs R66,390 in essential veterinary equipment before it can begin treating wildlife. Now she is asking South Africans to help turn her incredible dream into a lifesaving reality.
Western Cape, South Africa (08 November 2026) – A South African woman has poured R1 million of her life savings into building a wildlife clinic, all because she believes injured animals deserve a second chance. The building is complete, the recovery enclosures are ready, and now she needs R66,390 worth of essential veterinary equipment to turn her dream into a place where lives can be saved.
In the beautiful Hessequa region of the Western Cape, between Still Bay and Riversdale, Wild Rescue founder Gill Simpson has dedicated herself to protecting indigenous wildlife and preserving the remarkable biodiversity of the surrounding fynbos region. Her latest project is a purpose-built wildlife clinic, complete with two recovery enclosures where injured animals can heal. But while the infrastructure is ready, the facility still needs medical equipment before it can begin providing emergency treatment.
And that is where South Africans can make a difference.
South Africa is home to a variety of wildlife but our roads pose a serious threat to many of the animals that share our beautiful country. According to the Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT), more than 8,500 roadkill incidents have been recorded since 2012 along three major toll routes. In 2024 alone, more than 1,500 incidents were reportedly documented on these monitored highways. And those are only the animals that have been recorded. Many more incidents go unreported, especially when injured animals disappear into surrounding vegetation.
With the festive season approaching and traffic expected to increase along coastal routes, a dedicated wildlife clinic in the Hessequa region could make a real difference. Providing emergency first aid and initial treatment could significantly improve an injured animal’s chances of survival.
Wild Rescue is appealing for donations towards its R66,390 equipment wish list but financial contributions aren’t the only way to help. The organisation is also looking for second-hand medical and veterinary equipment in good working condition. Veterinary practices and medical suppliers may have unused equipment that could find a valuable new purpose helping injured wildlife.
Wild Rescue is a registered Non-Profit Company and Public Benefit Organisation, permitted and monitored by CapeNature. Donations are tax-deductible, with Section 18A certificates available on request.
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Bank: Standard Bank
Account name: The Wildlife Rescue Sanctuary NPC
Account number: 270378871
Branch code: 036009
For equipment donations or further enquiries, contact Gill directly:
Email: [email protected]
WhatsApp: 078 875 5776
Gill has already built the clinic. Now South Africans have an opportunity to help fill it with the tools needed to save lives. And with a little kindness and generosity, her dream could soon become a lifeline for injured wildlife, giving countless animals the chance to heal and return to where they belong.
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