Support Scales' Conservation Mission

What an inspiring few months it's been! Since our last update, your generosity has continued to fuel critical rescues, rehabilitations, and releases across South Africa. From pangolins fighting back from the brink to a young elephant freed from agony and a host of smaller lives saved at the Kogelberg Centre, every contribution has helped turn trauma into triumph. We're deeply grateful for your partnership, which enables these hands-on efforts and gives vulnerable wildlife a fighting chance.

One standout story is Kuru, a tiny male pangolin rescued in mid-April during an extraordinary day when the Limpopo Pangolin Collective coordinated three simultaneous sting operations, saving three pangolins at once. Arriving at just 4kg, severely emaciated, dehydrated, and suffering from infected wounds, biliary issues, and serious arm injuries, Kuru required round-the-clock intensive care at Hoedspruit Animal Hospital. Now at Umoya Khulula Wildlife Centre, this quiet fighter is turning the corner, eating well on foraging walks, gaining weight steadily, and showing growing confidence. His journey reminds us of the patience and resources needed for full recovery.

We also celebrated heartwarming successes like Olive, the resilient pangolin mum rescued in 2023. After overcoming oil burns, blindness, and emaciation, she was released and has since been captured on camera thriving with her newest pup, a beautiful sign of populations rebuilding in the wild. Other pangolins like Heritage (now monitored at her release site after conquering spinal infections via groundbreaking MRIs) and Isabella (confidently foraging in her soft-release territory) continue to inspire. Meanwhile, 14 tortoises rescued from the illegal pet trade are receiving specialized high-fibre care at Umoya Khulula, where feeding costs have risen to support their recovery from dehydration and malnutrition.

In the field, a young elephant calf was freed from a deeply embedded cable snare thanks to swift collaboration between our Snare Crisis Fund and partners, the procedure succeeded with no lasting damage expected. At Kogelberg Biosphere Wildlife Rescue Centre, teams handled everything from a feisty orphaned honey badger (full of attitude and busy digging her own burrows) and Ninja the barn owl (now a fierce, human-wary hunter ready for release) to a tiny spotted skaapsteker snake and a scrub hare returned safely to its exact spot. Tragically, a powerful storm in May damaged multiple enclosures there, but thanks to your support via the new Kogelberg Storm Recovery Fund, repairs are underway to accommodate incoming patients. A leopard orphan was also successfully released into a remote wilderness with a GPS collar funded through generous sponsors, while snare patrols continue protecting habitats.

These stories of quiet determination, expert care, and successful returns to the wild are possible because of you. Thank you for standing with us as we support pangolin rescues, snare removals, wild rehabilitations, and so much more. Together, we're making a real difference for South Africa's incredible biodiversity.

With wild hearts,Scales Conservation Fund Team

What a whirlwind it's been since our last update! As we dive into 2026, your support has fueled life-saving actions across South Africa's wild landscapes. From dismantling deadly poacher traps to nursing resilient pangolins back to health amid floods and festivities, your contributions have turned challenges into triumphs. We're grateful beyond words for the funds raised so far, which has amplified our partners' efforts in rescuing endangered species and protecting habitats. Every donation has been a beacon of hope, enabling rapid responses to threats and fostering stories of survival that inspire us all.

Picture this: in the rugged outskirts of Hoedspruit, our Snare Crisis Fund teams, partnering with the Endangered Wildlife Trust’s Carnivore Conservation Unit, Soldiers for Wildlife, and K9 Conservation, embarked on daring sweeps near wild dog den sites. Over two intense operations, volunteers and anti-poaching dogs patrolled kilometers of dense terrain, removing 20 lethal snares—silent killers targeting antelopes and other vulnerable wildlife. They uncovered active poaching camps littered with hides, utensils, and fresh tracks, a stark reminder of the ongoing battle. In another patrol northwest of town, the team discovered a slaughtered warthog, baboon remains, and a cut cable snare, while spotting a suspicious individual trying to evade notice. These repeated efforts, totaling 39 hours and 72 km covered since mid-2025, have removed 60 snares overall, disrupting poachers and safeguarding species like wild dogs. Meanwhile, at Kogelberg Biosphere Wildlife Rescue Centre, over 17 owls—barn, wood, and spotted eagle varieties—arrived as orphans or injury victims from collisions and suspected poisonings. With tender care, fluids, and flight training, they're now soaring toward release, their recoveries a testament to the healing power of your support.

Then there are the pangolin tales that tug at the heartstrings. Plum, rescued from traffickers in July, arrived weak and shivering from winter's chill but blossomed under ICU care at Provet Animal Hospital and rehabilitation at Umoya Khulula Wildlife Centre. After gaining weight and mastering foraging, she's thriving in her soft-release phase, monitored weekly as she digs burrows and embraces freedom. Heritage, saved on Heritage Day amid starvation and a hidden spinal infection, endured groundbreaking MRI scans—the first for a pangolin—and 60 days of intensive treatment. Now infection-free and full of spirit, she's prepped for release once tags arrive. And Johnny, a young male pulled from the trade in August, hit his 6kg release weight by January, foraging like a pro despite floods delaying his return to the wild. Heavy rains, dumping over 498mm in Limpopo, caused roadblocks and center damage, but your flood relief contributions have funded repairs to enclosures and roofs at Umoya Khulula and ReWild NPC, keeping animals safe. Reflecting on 2025, your generosity totaled R626,096 across projects, plus festive wish list items like dewormers and trail cameras boosting fieldwork.

As we press forward, we're optimistic about expanding rehabilitation centers and sustaining patrols, all while celebrating these victories. Your partnership is the heartbeat of this mission—together, we're weaving a safer tapestry for South Africa's biodiversity, one rescue and one snare at a time. With endless gratitude and wild enthusiasm, the Scales Conservation Fund Team.