Free Spirit Wildlife Sanctuary

10/11/2026

Hi everyone! I hope you are all doing well today. I wanted to share a very special update on our squirrel, W***y.

For those who don't know his background: W***y was brought to us after being struck by a snap mousetrap. We managed to get him through the worst of it with round-the-clock feedings and medication, but over time, something didn't seem quite right. Whenever I swapped his food and water bowls around, he would get completely confused.

I decided to test his sight by gently shining a light near his eyes, but there was no reaction at all—not even a blink. Last week, I took him to the vet to confirm my suspicions, and sadly, I was right. W***y has a partially crushed skull and is partially blind.

The Good News:
Despite his injuries, W***y is thriving! He is active, eating really well, and knows his enclosure inside and out by now.

☀️ By Day: He loves soaking up the warm sunshine in his safe outdoor setup.

🌙 By Night: He snuggles up in his sleeping enclosure inside his very own little tent!

Because he can't see well, he startles easily if you approach in silence. I always speak to him softly before reaching in, and I use a specific blanket to handle him. As soon as he smells that familiar blanket, he knows he’s safe and that it's either playtime or bedtime!

It completely amazes me how much trust this little guy has placed in me. He was born wild, yet somehow he understands that we are here to help him. Moments like this are exactly why I love what I do.

For now, W***y is one happy boy, living his best life and adapting beautifully to his special-needs routine! 🌿🐾

09/11/2026

Good morning, everyone! Here’s to another week. 🌧️⚡

This past weekend brought extreme rain, strong winds, and thunderstorms—it almost felt like winter!

We want to ask everyone to please be on the lookout for any abandoned, injured, or fallen animals and nests. Please take a moment to walk around your property and check under trees and bushes. You could be the only lifeline for a baby or injured wild animal.

If you find an animal in need, please contact us immediately for assistance. In the meantime, please follow these critical rules:

🚫 DO NOT give any water.

🚫 DO NOT give any food.

📦 Place the animal gently in a box with a warm towel and small breathing holes, and keep them in a quiet, dark place.

📞 Call us immediately so we can guide you on the next steps.

It is very dangerous to feed or give water to wild animals—they can easily aspirate (choke water into their lungs) or suffer severe illness from receiving the wrong diet. We know you want to help, but improper care can quickly turn fatal.

Please also keep an eye out for illegal wildlife trade, such as local roadside sales. If you see wild animals being offered for sale, try to keep the seller engaged from a safe distance and call us immediately so we can intervene.

Thank you for helping us keep our local wildlife safe! 🙏🏽🐾
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06/11/2026

Good morning everyone! I hope you all had a fabulous week—it's finally Friday!
Today, I want to ask if you would consider helping us. We solely rely on the kindness of our followers, and we simply cannot do this without your help. We do not receive any money from the government to look after our animals, so we truly depend on your generosity to keep going.
To make things easy, I’ve put together a few ways you can support us:
Takealot Lists: I’ve created a standard wishlist for everyday items we need to function, as well as an urgent Takealot list. You’ll also see a few appliances on there, like a fridge, a deep freezer, and a microwave.
Takealot list:https://www.takealot.com/wishlist/shared/1:55c0b617322841ab8cd2d06d48b0fb3d

urgent Takealot list:https://www.takealot.com/wishlist/shared/1:b78f6f14bd2045f198d6e777e64a2596

Second-Hand Items: If you have any second-hand appliances or items that you would like to donate, that would also be amazing! We love second hand items and are really not picky at all.
Office & Cleaning Supplies: I’ve added some office supplies because we do lots of admin, as well as cleaning products. We go through so much of this as we do washing and deep cleaning every single day!
Gift Vouchers: If you prefer, you can use the voucher option and send it to us so we can purchase what we need. Please send vouchers to 0735595872 or email them to us at [email protected].
Gift Vouchers:https://www.takealot.com/wishlist/shared/1:9be11ac350304eab8cd196d24dd99d4d

Fresh Produce & Medical Needs: We always have animals that need fresh veggies and fruit on a daily basis. We also have our medical side, where we need to buy medications and cover our vet bills. To help with these, you can use WhyDonate or our direct bank details.
WhyDonate
$:https://whydonate.com/fundraising/where-wild-souls-find-shelter-building-together-2

EURO:https://whydonate.com/fundraising/help-our-wildlife-
Bank details.
Account Name: Free Spirit Wildlife Sanctuary NPO
Bank: FNB
Account Number: 63176679331
Branch Code: 220530
Swift Code: FIRNZAJJ
We have to be the voice of the voiceless, and we truly cannot do this without your support. Please remember that even an R50 ($3.04) donation can go a long way for us—believe me, I know how to stretch a small amount!
I know that life isn't easy for any of us right now, but we don't get huge donations per month, and this is how we keep our heads above water. Please consider helping us out, or even pledging a monthly fee to become one of our regular supporters.
Thank you all for standing by us and helping us care for the animals! ❤️

05/11/2026

*💚 A SPECIAL THANK YOU 💚*

Today we want to say a huge, heartfelt thank you to the wonderful *Ria Smith*!

Thank you, Ria, for your incredibly kind and generous donations of blankets and bedding items for our sanctuary. And not only that – for your beautiful custom-made cage covers, soft toys and hammocks.

At Free Spirit Wildlife Sanctuary we are so grateful for your kindness. You are always fixing or making things to keep our rescues safe, warm and comfortable.

Our little ones feel the love in every stitch, and it truly makes a world of difference.

We honestly appreciate you so much, Ria. Thank you from all of us – two-legged and four-legged! 🐾💛

04/11/2026

Good morning, everyone! Hope you are having a great week so far. 🌿

We are reaching out today to ask for your urgent help. You are our eyes and ears in the community, and we cannot protect our wildlife without you!

If you come across anyone attempting to capture, hold, or sell any wild animals, please contact us immediately.

⚠️ CRUCIAL STEPS TO TAKE:

Do NOT buy the animal. Purchasing illegal wildlife only encourages sellers to catch more animals and makes you complicit in an illegal act.

Keep the seller busy. Keep them talking or distracted so our team and the proper authorities have time to respond and reach your location.

Contact us right away!

It is 100% illegal to capture, sell, or possess any wildlife without a valid permit. We started this sanctuary to save our animals, but stopping poachers and illegal sellers requires a team effort with our community.

📱 Contact Numbers:

Direct Call: 073 559 5872

Adel: 079 693 8025

WhatsApp Group: Join here to report

We are here for the wildlife—nothing is too much for us to keep them safe! 🐾💚

03/11/2026

Happy Birthday, Zander! 🎉

Hope you have an amazing day filled with joy! We just want to send a big Happy Birthday to you from all of us at Free Spirit Wildlife Sanctuary.

Thank you so much for everything you do for us and for always helping out wherever you can—it truly means the world to us and the animals! Wishing you a wonderful year ahead! 🐾🎂

01/11/2026

Sanctuary for injured and abandoned small animals and birds, for rescue, treatment and rehabilitation before being released back into the wild.

28/10/2026

📢 URGENT: WEATHER WARNING & WILDLIFE RESCUE ADVISORY 🌧️💨

Dear Friends and Community,

With the unseasonal weather, strong winds, heavy rain, and plummeting temperatures across our area, our local wildlife needs our eyes and ears open. Extreme cold, wind, and exposure pose a critical threat to vulnerable young animals who become separated from their parents or knocked from their nests.

If you come across a wild animal baby or injured creature in distress, please follow these critical initial steps:

📞 Contact a Professional Immediately: Do not hold onto the animal or attempt to keep it as a pet. Reach out to a licensed wildlife rehabilitator right away so we can guide you or arrange immediate transport to an authorized facility.

🚫 DO NOT Feed or Give Fluids: Please do not attempt to offer water, milk, or food. Feeding an animal in shock or using the wrong diet can cause severe illness. Improper feeding techniques frequently lead to aspiration (fluid entering the lungs), which can quickly prove fatal.

📦 Keep Them Warm, Dark, and Quiet: Carefully place the animal in a well-ventilated, secure cardboard box lined with a soft towel. Keep the container in a warm, dark, and quiet place away from children and domestic pets while awaiting rehabilitator instructions.

🚨 How to Reach Us Emergency / 24/7
If you find wildlife in distress in Sodwana Bay, Mbazwana, Kosi Bay, or surrounding areas:
📲 Direct Contact / WhatsApp: 073 559 5872

(Please LIKE, COMMENT, and SHARE this post to ensure our community knows what to do in an emergency!)

Sanctuary for injured and abandoned small animals and birds, for rescue, treatment and rehabilitation before being released back into the wild.

27/10/2026

Good morning all,
I would like to introduce you to Rosie, a vervet monkey. A few days ago in Kosi Bay, someone was trying to sell her for just R200.00. They had tied her lower body to a rope using a shower/bath loofah, and when nobody wanted to buy her, they were swinging her around like a ball.
Luckily, Adel was in town and saw what was happening. She went up to them, and the seller said if she gave him R200, she could take her. Knowing how to handle the situation, Adel asked to hold the baby to check on her. As soon as Rosie was safe in her arms, Adel told him that she volunteers at a wildlife rehab center and demanded to see his permit to keep or sell a wild animal. After a huge confrontation, Adel warned him that she was calling the police and Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife. Knowing he was in trouble, the man ran away.
Please note that Adel did not buy the baby, as we strictly do not support or finance the illegal wildlife trade.
When Rosie first arrived, she was extremely thin, broken, terrified, and sad after being taken from her troop. She was so traumatized that she wouldn't even make a sound. Adel was devastated seeing her like this, especially knowing how vocal vervet babies usually are from her experience with our other rescues. Every time there was a sudden movement, Rosie would immediately submit out of fear. When Adel gave her food for the first time, she ate non-stop!
I am happy to share that Rosie is doing so much better now! She is safe with us, eating well, and starting to rebuild her trust. She is even starting to make noises again and calls out to the wild troop that passes through our property every day. Since she is only about a year old, she was taken from the wild at such a young age, which breaks our hearts—but she is healing every day.
ONCE AGAIN, WE URGE YOU: PLEASE DO NOT SUPPORT THE ILLEGAL WILDLIFE TRADE. If you buy wild animals to save them, you unwittingly create a market and a business for poachers.
What you should do instead: If you see someone illegally selling wildlife, please pretend you are interested to keep the suspect busy/distracted. Do not buy the animal. Instead, call Adel or me directly right away! We have techniques to handle these situations safely, and we will dispatch the police and Ezemvelo to rescue the animal and get the poacher arrested.
Thank you for your continued support in helping us protect our wildlife! 🐾❤️
# AntiPoaching #