MOHOLOHOLO WILDLIFE REHABILITATION CENTRE

WORK WITH THE WILDLIFE

The management and staff of the centre are a group of dedicated conservationists committed to the preservation of Moholoholo’s wildlife. Their intimate knowledge of the animals they so lovingly care for is nothing less than impressive. Work can be of a reactionary nature and unpredictable. When you join Moholoholo you will be part of this dedicated team and will assist with all the daily tasks of running the centre.

Daily husbandry and care of permanent residents at the wildlife rehabilitation centre

Many animals brought into the centre cannot be released back into a wild environment due to the nature and extent of their injuries. The continuous care of these animals will be at the core of your day, including feeding and at times exercising animals. Of course it is not always glamorous work and you will be required to clean enclosures, mop floors, scrub bedding mats, prepare food and cut grass for bedding regularly. Please note there are many carnivores who live at the centre and some handling of meat is necessary when feeding species such as lions, cheetah, leopard and hyena. All work with fully grown predators is strictly hands-off!

Moholoholo has an extensive aviary and raptor enclosure, making this an ideal project if you are interested in the care of birds of prey. The sanctuary has owls, vultures and the precious crowned eagle.

Care for sick, injured and orphaned animals

Animals brought into the wildlife rehabilitation centre can range from warthog piglets to cheetah and rhino and every animal is treated with the same care. The responsibility of hand rearing a wild animal is guided by staff at the centre and offered to volunteers depending on their natural affinity with the animal and how long the animal may require that care for.

Many animals that pass through the centre require some medical treatment due to injuries sustained or poisoning. Moholoholo employ a full time veterinary nurse and you may have the opportunity to assist her in bandaging, treatment and cleaning of wounds when required.

Attending call outs to capture animals for relocation or treatment

Moholoholo is often the first port of call for neighbouring landowners and local farmers when animals are causing problems on the land or are found needing treatment. You may be part of the team that darts or humanely traps the animals to be brought into the centre for treatment, to be hand reared if they are orphaned, or to be released onto a nearby game reserve.

Alongside the education of the public through facilitated tours of the centre, Moholoholo are very successful at  building relationships with local communities which aids in human-wildlife conflict mitigation.

They have successfully trapped and relocated 10-15 leopards per year over the last years – some have been relocated as far as Malawi! Offering this relocation option has prevented local farmers from killing leopards they perceive to be a problem. Their “Vulture Restaurant ” provides a safe feeding place to vultures, who otherwise often fall victim to poisoned meat.

Moholoholo is the only facility in southern Africa to have successfully bred the endangered crowned eagle.

Our partner conservation projects do not condone “cub cuddling”: While the Moholoholo Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre provides sanctuary to some predators, they do not breed predators in captivity. Please read our detailed document on “Responsible Predator Conservation” through the link below to find out more about the predators you might encounter at your chosen wildlife rehabilitation project, including why they are there and what your involvement would be.

Placement Dates

Subject to availability, you can join the Moholoholo Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre any given week of the year.

Placements in 2017 run from Tuesday-Tuesday in South Africa, or Monday-Wednesday from London.

Placement Fees

NOTE: “2 weeks” duration refers to the length of stay at the project. Therefore, a “2 week” flight inclusive placement is actually 17 days including travel days.

Prices include accommodation, meals, transfers from Johannesburg airport, 24/7 support and financial contributions to the project. Prices are subject to change but will be confirmed in writing at the time of booking.

We also accept payment in EUR, CAD, AUD and ZAR. Please ask us for a quote, subject to exchange rates at the time.

You are welcome to volunteer at two or more projects during your stay. These placements are more complicated as they include travel arrangements between the projects, so please ask us for a quote for your desired project combination.

What is a “Rhino Rating”?

The “Rhino Rating” is our way of ranking a project in terms of how challenging it is – both physically and in terms of culture shock, comfort levels and skills required. Please refer to the “Rhino Ratings Explained” section for the general criteria for each rhino rating. The paragraph below explains the method behind our madness in choosing the rhino rating for this particular project.

Why does this project have a “2 rhino” rating?

This project is suitable for people of all levels of fitness and ability. While the work with the animals is practical, you do not need to lift heavy weights or walk significant distances and your typical day includes a good break in the middle of the day for lunch and some down-time. Accommodation is in a large communal house with shared bedrooms and bathrooms, with reliable access to hot water and electricity.