This feisty young Caracal is no longer the tiny kitten she was when rescued; she is now ready to be released back into the wild to start her life.
Johannesburg, South Africa (21 August 2023) – A Caracal kitten rescued from a wildcat breeding facility along with 70 other animals, has grown big and strong. The Johannesburg Wildlife Veterinary Hospital shared her progress in a cute “then and now” style update.
The caracal kitten was rescued in March of 2023 thanks to collaboration from the Bloemfontein SPCA, Virginia SPCA and the Department of Small Business Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs (DESTEA). The Johannesburg Wildlife Veterinary Hospital team was called onto site to help assess and treat the multiple wild animals being bred for the pet trade.
The rescue operation was vital as many of the animals were in incredibly compromised positions. They were sedated to reduce stress and many were found to be starving, riddled with disease, parasite infestation and even self-mutilation as a result of their extreme distress.
The caracal kitten is now ready to be released and as you can see from her picture, she is big and strong! The vet shared that she has been with them only a fraction longer than she would have stayed with her mom. As the work on narrowing down a safe space to release her, she builds up her strength, agility and prowess to face the wild. While she has been hand-raised, her carers kept every interaction to a minimum.
“Contrary to what many believe, a wild animal that has been hand raised CAN be released successfully if the correct protocol is followed. She may be familiar with her primary carer’s presence, however, she is by no means friendly. As she enters a larger area and has even less human interaction, she will become even less familiar with people, just as it should be.”
It is thanks to continued support from donors that this caracal and the many rescued animals from this case, have been able to finally thrive.
The Johannesburg Wildlife Veterinary Hospital treats indigenous animals free of charge, relying solely on donations and support from the community.
If you would like to support the work they do, you can donate a monetary sum using the details below.
BANK DETAILS:
Johannesburg Wildlife NPC
FNB Cheque account
Account No: 62658400264
Branch code: 255355
Swift code: FIRNZAJJ
SNAPSCAN: https://pos.snapscan.io/qr/PXMP5766
PAYPAL: paypal.me/joburgwildlifevet