An injured Hadeda found abandoned in a packet in the Verulam CBD is on the road to recovery thanks to caring community members, RUSA officers, and CROW volunteers.
KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa (27 September 2025) – South Africa has a complicated relationship with the Hadeda. For some, their distinctive dawn calls are a noisy wake-up call. For others, those calls are part of our soundtrack… a reminder that we’re home. No matter how you feel about their squawks, one thing’s certain: these hardy, striking birds are an important part of our ecosystem.
And this week, one Hadeda in KwaZulu-Natal got a second chance at life thanks to a community that cared enough to step in.
On Friday morning, an injured Hadeda was found abandoned in a packet behind a building on Todd Street in Verulam’s CBD. The bird, distressed and unable to fly, had wounds on both legs. A staff member from a nearby business spotted the packet moving and discovered the trapped Hadeda inside.
Their quick actions brought in members of Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA), who rushed to the scene.
“Reaction Officers arrived and captured the bird,” SA911 News and Crime shared in their post. It wasn’t easy, the frightened bird tried to escape, but thankfully, the officers managed to keep it safe.
Once secured, the Hadeda was handed over to a volunteer from the Centre for Rehabilitation of Wildlife (CROW). From there, the bird will receive the treatment and care it needs to heal. CROW has been instrumental in helping countless injured and orphaned wild animals, and this Hadeda now has the chance to recover and, hopefully, return to the wild where it belongs.
While many might roll their eyes at the mention of a Hadeda, the truth is they’re resilient, fascinating birds that play a role in keeping ecosystems balanced. They help control insects, adapt to urban life, and remind us that wildness exists all around us, even in the middle of a busy city.
This rescue is not just about saving one bird… it’s a reminder that compassion and quick action can turn a sad situation into a hopeful story. From the observant staff member to the RUSA team and the dedicated volunteers at CROW, a chain of kindness ensured that this Hadeda has another chance to thrive.
*The original post alleged that the person who dumped the Hadeda (in a plastic bag) is a “known drug user in the Central Business District”.
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