A decade of rescuing, rehabilitating, and releasing the wild animals of Gauteng!
Gauteng, South Africa (02 June 2026) – Gauteng is wilder than you might think – so much so that the team at Friends of Free Wildlife has been on their toes for a decade, responding to the region’s wild creatures in need.
The organisation was started by a group of determined animal lovers and has grown from a passion project into a trusted, life-saving refuge for thousands of wild animals that require care.
Over the last decade, the team has taken in 31,386 birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates!
They patch up around 3500 patients every single year (90% of them are birds!) with the strict goal of keeping them wild, getting them healed, and releasing them safely back into nature.
Beyond the medical care and rehabilitation of wildlife, Friends of Free Wildlife also works on educating communities about conservation through school outreach programs that promote peaceful co-existence between humans and city and suburban-dwelling creatures.
Funded by public donations and corporate sponsorships, the organisation relies on volunteer shifts and a network of local veterinary partners to support its mission of giving suburban wildlife a second chance at freedom.
“Today marks 10 years of rescuing and caring for the wild neighbours living all around us,” Friends of Free Wildlife shared. “To our founding members who had the vision to begin this journey, our incredible staff and volunteers who answer calls at all hours and go above and beyond every single day, and every donor who has kept us going through some truly difficult times — thank you. This work simply would not exist without you.”
“And to every person who stopped, picked up the phone, slowed down, or chose compassion over convenience — thank you for caring about the wild animals who share this space with us,” the team expressed. “Here’s to the next 10 years of rescues, releases, second chances, and saving wild lives — no matter how big or small.”
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