REWILD

Leading the Way in Bat Rehabilitation and Conservation in South Africa

ReWild Rehabilitation Centre, based in Phalaborwa, Limpopo, is South Africa’s foremost expert in bat rehabilitation, dedicated to the care, treatment, and release of injured, orphaned, and sick bats. Founded by renowned bat rehabilitator Jane Burd, ReWild stands as a beacon of hope for South Africa’s indigenous wildlife, specializing in the care of bats—one of the most underserved groups in wildlife conservation. With over 20 years of experience, the Centre offers a safe haven for bats and other wildlife in need, all while working to educate the public on the vital role these creatures play in maintaining a balanced ecosystem.

Bats in South Africa face numerous threats, including habitat loss, climate change, illegal hunting, and the disruption of roosting sites. Unfortunately, bat numbers are often overlooked, with the assumption that they are safe and in high numbers in protected areas. As a result, their conservation status remains uncertain, making it challenging to develop effective protection measures. Bats are also frequently misunderstood, with many people fearing them due to misconceptions about their behavior and role in nature. However, these remarkable creatures are crucial to ecosystems, providing vital services such as pollination, insect control, and seed dispersal, which help maintain biodiversity and support agricultural practices. Their decline could have far-reaching impacts, making the conservation of bats essential for the health of our natural environment.

The Expertise Behind ReWild

Founded in 2014 by Jane and Faunce Burd, ReWild is a non-profit organization with a strong focus on the rehabilitation of small mammals, birds, and particularly bats. Jane Burd, trained at Bat World Sanctuary in the USA, is widely recognized as one of South Africa’s top bat rehabilitators. Her extensive experience and commitment to bat conservation have made ReWild the go-to centre for bat rehabilitation in Limpopo and Mpumalanga, handling both local cases and providing expert advice across South Africa and even internationally. The Centre is one of the few in the country to specialize in bat care, offering specialized facilities designed to meet the unique needs of various bat species found in South Africa.

The Threats Facing Bats

Bats in South Africa face numerous threats, many of which are directly linked to human activity. The most common issue is the persecution of roof-roosting bats, particularly Free-tailed bat species like Mops condylurus, Chaerephon pumilus, and Mops midas. These bats are often driven out of homes through inhumane and illegal methods such as poisoning, drowning, or sealing them in roofs to starve. During the breeding season, these methods are especially harmful, as young pups that cannot fly are left behind to perish. At ReWild, bats that survive these dangerous conditions are given a second chance at life, receiving much-needed treatment and care before being returned to their natural habitat.

Rehabilitation and Release

ReWild Rehabilitation Centre specializes in the care, treatment, and rehabilitation of injured, sick, and orphaned bats, birds, and small mammals. Led by Jane Burd, South Africa’s foremost bat rehabilitator, ReWild offers expert medical treatment and nurturing environments to ensure these animals have the best chance of survival and successful reintroduction into the wild. Every animal that arrives at the Centre receives individualized care, from feeding and medical treatments to physical rehabilitation, until they are strong enough to be released back into their natural habitat

Humane Bat Exclusion Services

ReWild provides a humane bat exclusion service, helping homeowners and businesses safely remove and exclude bats from buildings, particularly during the non-breeding season. Through careful planning and humane methods, ReWild works to prevent unnecessary harm to bats, educating the public on how to safely address common issues associated with bat roosting, such as noise and odor. For farmers, ReWild offers guidance on setting up bat houses, which promote natural pest control and help reduce reliance on chemical pesticides, benefiting both the environment and local agriculture.

Education and Community Outreach

Educating the public is a core part of ReWild’s mission. The Centre regularly engages with local communities to promote awareness and understanding of bats and other small wildlife, helping to dispel myths and superstitions that often lead to harmful practices. Through educational programs and community talks, ReWild encourages people to value and protect bats as crucial components of South Africa’s biodiversity. These efforts foster a sense of stewardship and help communities learn sustainable, humane ways to coexist with wildlife.

Conservation Research and Monitoring

The team at ReWild monitors and studies all wildlife admitted to the Centre, providing valuable insights into the environmental challenges affecting local bat populations and other species. Through their work, they gather data on threats such as pollution, climate change, habitat destruction, and disease. This information helps ReWild to understand and address the factors impacting wildlife survival in the region and contributes to a broader understanding of the role these animals play in the ecosystem.

Support ReWild Rehabilitation Centre

Rewild is dedicated to rescuing and rehabilitating bats in need, providing them with the care and protection they deserve. Your generous donation supports their efforts to rescue injured and displaced bats, rehabilitate them, and return them to the wild where they belong. Help them continue this important work and make a lasting impact on bat conservation. Every donation helps save a bat—click below to contribute to their recovery!

Donate