Lindy Elmes is the founder of Wildlife Rescue, a registered non-profit organisation based in Ballito, which is dedicated to the rescue, stabilisation, and release of local wildlife. Her love for animals and a desire to alleviate the suffering of wildlife in pain and needing help inspired the creation of this organisation. Lindy has rescued feral cats and rehomed their saved kittens for many years, so this was a natural progression to more rescues and more kinds of animals. Operating with permission from Ezemvelo Wildlife KZN, the team handles both ordinary species and Threatened or Protected Species (ToPs).
Every rescue by Wildlife Rescue is interesting and crazy, given the wild nature of the animals involved. Lindy recalls one of the most memorable rescues was that of a female monkey struggling to give birth, “I rushed her to our wildlife vet in Umhlanga, where she performed a C-section, which I assisted with. We were so relieved when both mom and baby survived theop.”
The main goal of Wildlife Rescue is to return animals to the wild in their exact place of origin as soon as possible. “If they need a longer recovery time, I get them to the best rehabilitation centre for the species in question. We always try to reunite babies with their mothers and return them to their familiar environment, where they know their way around.”
Community support plays a crucial role in enabling Wildlife Rescue to offer its services at no cost. Despite the challenges of securing funding (since no call-out fees are charged), the organisation relies on community donations and fundraising efforts to cover costs such as petrol, food, veterinary bills, and medication. Occasionally, a donation will be offered after a rescue, but it’s not asked for, as then the public may not call it in.
Lindy works tirelessly, often spending many hours at night feeding babies or caring for animals that come in during the day, and being on call 24/7. The nature of the job is spontaneous, which often leaves her unable to predict what the day will bring. “Each day, my daughters ask me what I’m doing, and I can only answer, ‘Call me tonight and I’ll tell you what I did.’”
Through social media, participation in markets and community events, educational presentations, and initiatives like road signage to alert the public to wildlife crossings, Wildlife Rescue aims to educate and foster a community that values and takes pride in its unique wildlife. Despite the demands of the job, which she describes as a full-time, payless job done from the heart,her passion for her work is evident.“I love what I do and can’t see myself doing anything else,” Lindy says, highlighting her dedication to the cause of wildlife rescue and rehabilitation in the Ballito area.
For more information on Wildlife Rescue, visit their Instagram page. To support their life-saving work, scan the QR Codebelowto make a donation. Everything counts in the mission to protect and preserve our precious wildlife!
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WORDS: MARISKA MOODLEY
PHOTOS: COASTAL MEDIA