The Johannesburg Wildlife Veterinary Hospital is celebrating wildlife patient number 15,000, along with eight wild and wonderful years of impact!
Johannesburg, South Africa (18 March 2025) — It’s almost too big of a number to fathom—15,000 wildlife patients. Most of us will only ever witness a handful of wild animals, let alone help save thousands of them. But this is what the Johannesburg Wildlife Veterinary Hospital does and does well. And now, they’re celebrating not only patient 15,000 ( a tiny hatchling Nile monitor), but eight jam-packed years of making positive change for animals.
The Johannesburg Wildlife Veterinary Hospital (JWVH) is one of a kind. With community support as its backbone, this team of experts in Jozi treat indigenous wildlife at no cost—from tiny critters to endangered species.
That’s eight years of life-saving moments, finding solutions to complicated problems and making sure that the wildlife patients return back to their natural homes when they are strong enough.
Many of these patients are those who have looked poachers in the eyes and come out on the other side thanks to the vets’ hands and those who have narrowly escaped the clutches of the illegal wildlife trade.
Reflecting on the massive milestone, the team shared:
“Over the years, we have treated everything from tiny bats to powerful raptors, delicate antelope to endangered pangolins – each case presenting unique challenges and groundbreaking medical successes.
“Just as our medical work in the hospital has saved individual lives and contributed to veterinary advancements in wildlife medicine, so our advocacy work in the court rooms across the country has led to better protection and greater awareness around the plights and rights of these animals, helping to shape the future of conservation-focused animal care.
“This journey would not have been possible without the unwavering support of our sponsors, donors, volunteers, and the broader conservation community. Your generosity and belief in our mission allows us to continue breaking new ground in wildlife veterinary care.”
To these ends, the lion-hearted team have given every case their all. From saving smuggled tortoises to rehabilitating pangolins and helping Springboks win their lives back, we salute their years of incredible work and look forward to many more yet to come.
You can keep up with their wild and wonderful journey here and support their efforts here.
by 