Kogelberg Biosphere Wildlife Rescue & Training Centre | Wildlife Rescue in the Western Cape
Every week, injured and displaced wild animals arrive at the Kogelberg Biosphere Wildlife Rescue & Training Centre, affected by fires, vehicle collisions, dog and cat attacks, entanglements, poisoning incidents and other human-related threats.
From tortoises and owls, to goslings, snakes, porcupines and Blue Cranes, these animals all have one thing in common: they need urgent care to survive. Our goal is simple – to rehabilitate injured wildlife and release them back into the wild where they belong.
The Kogelberg Biosphere Wildlife Rescue & Training Centre provides wildlife rescue and rehabilitation services in the Western Cape, South Africa.
Wildlife rescue in the Kogelberg Biosphere: Please help us keep this work going
The centre depends on public support to operate. Every donation helps cover food, medication, transport, rehabilitation and veterinary care.
Monthly donations make one of the biggest differences, helping us respond quickly when wildlife emergencies happen.
By donating to the Kogelberg Biosphere Wildlife Rescue & Training Centre, you are helping injured wildlife in South Africa receive urgent care and a second chance to return to the wild.
Bring injured wildlife to the centre
Found an injured animal?
If you find injured or displaced wildlife in the Kogelberg region, please contact or bring the animal to the Kogelberg Biosphere Wildlife Rescue & Training Centre as soon as possible.
Early intervention can mean the difference between life and death. The centre, situated just outside Betty’s Bay, assists with injured birds, mammals, reptiles and other vulnerable wildlife species from across the Kogelberg Biosphere and surrounding Overberg region.
Get in touch with our Rehabilitation Specialist:
Michelle Watson
073 314 0674
The western Cape’s first permitted wildlife rescue centre
In December 2024, the Kogelberg Biosphere Wildlife Rescue & Training Centre became the first permitted wildlife rescue centre in the Western Cape.
The centre includes:
– An emergency wildlife clinic
– Recovery and rehabilitation spaces
– Flight enclosures for birds
– A dedicated food preparation area
– Rehabilitation support for vulnerable species including Blue Cranes
But running a wildlife rescue centre is costly – and the need for help keeps growing.
Why this work matters
Wildlife across the Kogelberg Biosphere faces increasing pressure from human activity and environmental disasters.
Animals are injured through:
- Wildfires
- Vehicle collisions
- Snares and entanglements
- Powerline and fence injuries
- Domestic animal attacks
- Habitat loss and displacement
For our centre, no animal is too small or insignificant to deserve care.
Every successful release back into the wild is a second chance.
How the Kogelberg Wildlife Rescue & Training Centre started
It started with wildfire rescue efforts
The idea for the centre took shape after devastating Kleinmond wildfires in 2022, when volunteers worked tirelessly to rescue tortoises, chameleons and other vulnerable wildlife caught in the flames.
After the fires, Corlie Hugo connected with certified wildlife rehabilitator Michelle Watson, one of the first South Africans accredited by the International Wildlife Rehabilitation Council.
Together, they recognised the urgent need for a dedicated wildlife rehabilitation facility in the region.
With support from volunteers, donors, the Overstrand Municipality and CapeNature, the rescue centre became a reality.
HOW YOUR DONATIONS HELP INJURED WILDLIFE RECOVER
You can help wildlife recover and return home
Donate to the Kogelberg Biosphere Wildlife Rescue & Training Centre. All funds raised are used to acquire the necessary equipment and to run rescue operations.
There are many ways to support the centre:
– Become a monthly donor
– Make a once-off donation
– Sponsor food or medical supplies
– Volunteer your time
– Assist with transport and rescues
– Share our work with others
Every contribution – no matter the size – helps save wildlife.
CONTACT:
Michelle Watson
073 314 0674
Or make a monthly donation
Donate equipment, your time or give in-kind support
- Electric saw
- First Aid supplies (any first aid medical supplies)
- Medical tape
- Latex gloves
- Animal handling/working gloves
- Animal food
- Catching nets
- Fine mesh (birds nests)
- Enclosures for larger mammals
- An animal ambulance to transport patients
- Spray bottles
- Baby bottles and teats
- Heat pads
- Scales (handheld/kitchen)
- Flashlights/headlamps
- Carrier cages (cages for transport/temporary holding cage)
- Live insects and fresh food for patients
- Detergents and cleaning agents (antiseptic, washing powder, soap powder etc.)
- Herbariums/fishtanks
- Animal-carrying stretcher
- Hacksaws/loppers
- Buckets
- Black bags
- Personal Protective Equipment
- Hand sanitiser
- Cable ties, duct tape
- Cotton gauze and bandages
- Salaries for staff and willing volunteers
- Beanies/pouches
LOCAL VETS WE’RE WORKING WITH
Our wonderful local vets have teamed up with the Kogelberg Wildlife Rescue Group. They’ll be helping when and where they can to treat injured wildlife. If you would like to donate to the rescue work, you can donate to the Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve Wildlife Rescue Group. Or you can donate to these vets (please use ‘Wildlife Kogelberg’ as the reference).
Dr Floris Kruger in Kleinmond
Banking Details: Southern Vet, FNB Current account: 63018363513
Dr Peter Dave in Kleinmond
Banking Details: Kleinmond Animal Clinic, Nedbank Kleinmond, Branch 147005, Account: 1470023490
Dr Michelle Lawrance in Grabouw
Banking Details: Grabouw Animal Clinic, FNB Grabouw, 62091293953
Dr Donalyn Hennessey in Villiersdorp
Banking details: Grabouw Animal Clinic, FNB Grabouw, 62091293953
| EMERGENCY WILDLIFE CONTACT LIST | ||
| Wildlife and Birds | ||
| Kogelberg Biosphere Wildlife Rescue Emergency number | Emergency | 060 861 5653 |
| Kogelberg Biosphere Senior Rehabilitator | Michelle Watson | 073 314 0674 |
| Snakes | ||
| Snake Catcher | Kleinmond | 082 385 1589 |
| Kleinmond Michael Green | 082 212 5116 | |
| Betty’s Bay Johan Cloete | 083 460 2123 | |
| Pringle Bay Francois van Zyl | 083 271 8809 | |
| Poison Information Center | Snake Bites | 021 931 6129 |
| Poison Information Helpline | 0861 555 777 | |
| African SnakeBite Institute | Snake & Snake Bites | 082 494 2039 |
| Netcare Ambulance | 082 911 | |
| ER24 Ambulance | 084 124 | |
| Marine Mammals | ||
| S.A National Strandings Network | All Marine Mammals (Meredith Thornton) | 082 746 5579 |
| Overstrand Municipality | Office Hours | 028 316 3724 |
| Control Room | 028 313 8000/8111 | |
| South African Shark Conservancy | Hermanus | 028 312 3029 |
| Sea Turtles | ||
| Two Oceans Aquarium | 021 418 3823 | |
| Seabirds (Marine) | ||
| SANCCOB | CapeTown | 021 557 6156 |
| APSS | Hermanus/Gansbaai | 072 598 7117 |
| Bees | ||
| Gys Boonzaier | Kleinmond | 083 225 5695 |
| Animal Welfare (Domestic) | ||
| KAWS | Kleinmond | 028 271 5004 083 516 5535 |
| Rooisand Wild Horses | ||
| Rooisand Horse Watch | Leanne Dryburgh | 083 293 7208 |
| Prof. F van der Merwe | 082 959 8787 | |
JOIN THE TEAM
You can become a volunteer. Please download and fill in the volunteer form.
We’re also a Public Benefit Organisation with SARS. Our number is PBO: 930029352.
The KBRC can therefore issue Section 18A tax exemption certificates to our donors.
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Biosphere Living
If you live in the Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve region, you’re already enjoying Biosphere Life. That means you can already enjoy all that Mother Nature offers you here, in this incredibly special part of the world.
You can take the next step, to become even more involved in the Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve.
And remember to include us in your social media posts, by using the hashtag: #BiosphereLiving.