FreeMe Wildlife

22/10/2026

It’s the little things… ❤️

What’s that around your leg? 😱❤️

This little Egyptian gosling was recently admitted with a case of splayed leg syndrome.

What is Splayed leg syndrome?🧐

Splayed leg syndrome is a condition where a bird’s legs extend outwards to the sides instead of sitting underneath its body, making standing and walking difficult. It is commonly seen in chickens, particularly young chicks, and can affect their ability to move around normally. 🐣

How do we fix it? 🤔

By gently securing the legs in their natural, correctly spaced position, using suitable supportive taping, the legs are prevented from sliding outwards, allowing the chick to practise standing and moving with better alignment.

This support helps the developing muscles, tendons and joints maintain the correct position while the chick regains strength and mobility. 😌

Do you see that slack in the taping ?😍 that’s good news! It means the gosling isn’t relying on the tape to keep his legs in place 👍🏼🤗

Early intervention is important to improve the chances of recovery and prevent long-term complications. ❤️

Watch this space for the next step 😁

We love what we do, and how we do it… ❤️

21/10/2026

And… with full tummy, it’s time to head back to the “pup pile” for some well earned sleep… 🥱😴

These Side-striped Jackal pups have been growing quickly, not long and they’ll be running around! 😅

We love what we do, and how we do it… ❤️

21/10/2026

Update on the Side-striped Jackal pups… 😲🤗

These five pups have put on 100g in weight over the past four days at the FreeMe Wildlife Zululand centre, and their eyes are starting to open. 😁

Puppies are born with their eyelids sealed shut. This protects their still-developing eyes. Most start opening them in the 10–14 day window, often one eye a day or so before the other. The process is gradual, they usually begin with a small slit and open more fully over the next few days. 👍

Feeds are taken seriously… 😂

We love what we do, and how we do it… ❤️

21/10/2026

Become a FreeMe Wildlife Custodian. 💚

Your support helps us continue caring for wildlife in need and gives us the opportunity to make a difference.

Find out more about our Custodianship Program and how you can get involved. 😁👇

https://freemewildlife.org/support-us/custodian/

We love what we do, and how we do it... ❤

21/10/2026

A not so common Saturday admission. 🤍

If you are wondering what this 820g white ball of fluff is, wonder no more; it is an African Spoonbill chick. 🐣❤️

Our records show that this is only the second spoonbill admission since 2019. 🗓️ 😱
Having uncommon admissions provides our rehab team with the opportunity to grow in knowledge and experience as we aim to mimic each species' diet and habitat as closely as possible. 🤓

So, with some research and careful planning, our rehab team has formulated a special diet to ensure that this chick recieves all the necessary nutrients for optimal growth. 💪😁

Providing a natural habitat reduces the stress of being in a captive environment and will ease the transition from rehabilitation to freedom. 🪽

More on this to follow... 🪿

We love what we do, and how we do it... ❤️

20/10/2026

Working with ToPS (Threatened or Protected Species)… ❤️

Remember these three little kittens?!
They are now 3 months old and full of life, as cute as they are, let’s look closer at their ecological value.😌

Servals are often overshadowed by Africa’s larger, more famous predators, but these incredible cats play an important role in keeping our ecosystems healthy. And understanding why they matter is the first step towards protecting them.😁👍🏼

So, why should we care about servals?😁

Because conservation isn’t only about the animals we see every day or the species that make headlines. It’s about recognising that even the less celebrated members of our wildlife community have an important place in nature.

These three little ones are a reminder that every species has a place in the bigger picture, and every conservation story starts with caring enough to make a difference. 🤗

We love what we do, and how we do it… ❤️

19/10/2026

Thank you, Peter's Gate Herbal Centre ❤🤗

And just like that, the sun sets on our Open Gardens for 2026.

We would like to thank each and everyone who came out (braving the hot weather) and who made a donation to FreeMe Wildlife. Your support means more than we can say ✨

Thank you to Blackwood's and Open Gardens and Events of South Africa for another fantastic year. Already looking forward to the next one~

With love
The Peter's Gate Family

19/10/2026

Nyala update!😍

One little Nyala, a VERY big appetite! ❤️

This little boy has certainly been keeping us busy at FreeMe Wildlife! 😂 Between his regular feeds and all the care that goes into raising a growing antelope, he’s making sure our days are full!

There’s also plenty to learn along the way. Did you know that the way a young Nyala drinks plays an important role in digestion?🤔

All young mammals suckle, but in young ruminants, suckling also stimulates the oesophageal groove reflex. This muscular channel directs milk past the rumen and reticulum towards the abomasum, where it can be digested. Because his rumen is still developing, this is an important part of his digestive process.😌

A bottle with a suitable teat encourages natural suckling, helping support this process and allowing us to monitor his milk intake.

And this little gentleman is currently drinking a whole litre of milk every day! 🍼 😱
That’s a lot of milk for one little Nyala!😄

Do you want to be part of his journey?❤️

A big part of raising wildlife orphans is keeping up with their nutritional needs, and we’d love to share that journey with you! Our current wish list includes:

🍼 Nespray
🥛 Ideal Milk
🦠 Protexin
🍼 Lamb teats
♻️ Empty 1-litre Coke bottles

You can also contribute any amount towards the cost of a feed. Whether it’s a tin of milk, a bottle, or a small contribution, every bit helps us keep his (and the many others) feeding routine going. 😁

Banking details:
Account First National Bank
Howick Branch
Branch Code: 220 725
Account: 621 412 460 68
Reference: Your tull name Or find us on Paypal @ paypal.me/FreeMeWildlife

Curious about what happens behind the scenes? 🌿
Visit www.freemewildlife.org to learn more about our work and our science-based approach to wildlife rehabilitation.🥳❤️

We’ll keep you updated as this little boy grows. For now, there’s milk to mix, bottles to prepare and a hungry Nyala to feed! 😌

We love what we do, and how we do it… ❤️

18/10/2026

Once we got these five Side-striped Jackal puppies onto their new bottles and formula, there was no stopping them… 😲🤗

Feeds are done every six hours around the clock. 🍼🧐👍

We love what we do, and how we do it… ❤️

18/10/2026

When it’s feeding time, it’s all hands on deck! 😲

When it comes to puppies that take growing seriously, the whole team gets focused on getting them to suckle effectively on their new bottles and formula. 👍🧐🍼

This was the five Side-striped Jackal pups first feed after admission to FreeMe Wildlife Zululand. Fortunately, our team are really good at what they do, and in no time at all, these pups had their first meal in. 😁👍

We love what we do, and how we do it… ❤️