A 74-year-old hiker trapped in the remote and not-to-be-reckoned-with Elands River Mouth was rescued against every odd that made for one of the most trying and rewarding rescues.

Eastern Cape, South Africa (28 May 2025) — Against every odd, a 74-year-old senior hiker made it out of a remote gorge in the Eastern Cape thanks to a team who took a risk to save a life.

Last month, the senior hiker had taken a fall upstream of the Elands River Mouth, Grootkrans. She had fallen and injured herself hours before she could get in touch with help. However, this would be no ordinary rescue.

When NSRI Station Commander Lodewyk Van Rensburg got the call, he immediately knew it would be tough. Getting to the Elands River Mouth is its own mission, given the limited access by road. Once you do manage to get there, you’re met with a gorge boasting steep and sharp cliffs, not to mention a surf even the most ambitious water warriors avoid. Winds are also tough, and on a bad day, fog sets stubbornly, as was the case on the day of the rescue. Not to mention, nighttime was nearing.

All of these factors betted against the hiker’s survival, and all were present the day she needed help. However, the NSRI Oyster Bay team braved it all to pull off the unthinkable, bringing her home.

According to Lodewyk, winds were blowing at 30 knots while the sea climbed to 4 metres. No helicopter support was avaliable to the rescuers, so all they could rely on was their rescue craft and their courage.

“Luckily, we caught water going in,” Lodewyk shares of how the rescuers manager to get into the gorge via crossing a sandbank.

In the gorge, the team located the fallen hiker and had to swim her toward the rescue vessel using a backboard. This, because no paramedics could accompany the rescue team given the tough terrain that was decided not to be conducive for carrying gear.

Just when things were looking up, a new issue arose that made exiting its own challenge, the boat had gotten stuck on the sandbank, prohibiting a swift goodbye to the gorge.

“We stood there for 15 minutes. I asked the crew how they felt, and they said, ‘It’s now’, recalls Lodewyk. The team timed their run between wave swells to catch the right wave and get out. “The second wave broke underneath the boat. We only just made it.”

Hope was finally tangible again as the vessel made its way 12 nautical miles to shore.

At around 9pm, the rescue of a lifetime came to its end. With landing lights set up by Ian Gray of the NSRI’s Regional Operations Support Committee, light quite literally shone at the end of the tunnel.

The hiker was suspected to have spinal injuries and hints of hypothermia. However, her chances of survival were hugely influenced by the work of the brave people who risked their own safety that day.

“To be quite honest, I think the risk that we took was very high,” Lodewyk said of heading out into the gorge. “But when the doctor told us that if we hadn’t taken her out that night, she may not have made it — it kind of changed the whole perspective.”

This rescue is considered one of the most demanding rescue operations in recent times for NSRI Station 36 Oyster Bay. But, it should also be considered one of their proudest!

Sources: NSRI 

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Two lions named Goliath and Coralie spent years in a cramped circus cage in France. Now, they are finally on their way to a new life in South Africa!

South Africa (21 May 2025) — Former circus lions Goliath and Coralie will soon begin a new life in South Africa following a life of confinement in France.

The lions, named Goliath and Coralie, both spent years in the French circus industry where they were subject to cramped cages and a life unfit for any animal.

However, thanks to an an investigation by Free Life Association, incredible rescue efforts from Animal Defenders International (ADI) and an airline’s generous flight donation, the two are set to land in Johannesburg on Thursday morning!

 

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ADI are a global team who work tirelessly to handle some of the biggest and most dangerous animal rescues in the world. From going undercover to expose animal suffering to impressive rescue and relocation efforts, ADI are the reason many animals got a second chance.

“It’s a dream come true for Coralie and Goliath,” reflects President of ADI, Jan Creamer. “They’re leaving behind a tiny cage to roam freely in their natural homeland.”

The lions are set to head to the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary (ADIWS), a secure refuge boasting 455 acres. Over 30 big cats and other rescued animals live at the sanctuary. Many of these animals were also rescued from the circus industry.

As Jan Creamer highlights, the rescue also marks the beginning of a new era considering that wild animals in circuses will be banned in France by 2028.

Meanwhile, in more good news where triumph prevailed over tragedy, heroes helped save the lives of numerous vultures following a mass poisoning incident in the Kruger National Park. Now, 18 of those survivor vultures have successfully been released! More, here. 

Sources: Animal Defenders International 

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World Rescue Dog Day is just around the corner, and if you’ve been deciding on adopting a pet or shopping for you, this is your sign to choose the former.

South Africa (19 May 2025) — As World Rescue Dog Day approaches on 20 May, animal welfare organisations from all over are calling on people to consider adopting rescue dogs instead of purchasing them.

With millions of animals in South Africa facing homelessness, adoption remains one of the most compassionate and impactful actions individuals can take!

The Pet Overpopulation Crisis

South Africa is one of many countries currently grappling with a serious pet overpopulation crisis. An estimated 4.05 million dogs and cats live without permanent homes, including 1.7 million stray dogs, 1.7 million stray cats, and over 650,000 animals housed in shelters.

These figures are compounded by socio-economic challenges such as poverty, limited access to veterinary services, and low public awareness about the benefits of adopting rescue animals.

When You Help a Rescue, You Help the Team Behind Them Too

“Animal shelters across the country need your help,” says Fiona Miles, Director at FOUR PAWS South Africa.

“They are overcrowded, under-resourced, and often overlooked. Every adoption not only changes the life of a rescued animal but also helps relieve the immense pressure shelters face daily.”

Rescue Dogs Cannot Be Chalked Down to ‘Problem Dogs’

Despite common misconceptions, many rescue dogs are just as loving, healthy, and loyal as animals bought from breeders or pet shops. Many find themselves in shelters through no fault of their own, often as a result of abandonment, abuse, or financial hardship faced by their previous owners.

While some rescues certainly come from traumatic circumstances, this is not to say that they are by any means a lost cause.

Animal welfare organisations all over South Africa work tirelessly to socialise animals and get them ready for life outside of the shelter!

Why Should You Adopt a Rescue Dog?

• Saving lives by providing a second chance to an animal in need.
• Fostering responsible pet ownership through education and support from shelter staff.
• Discouraging unethical breeding practices by reducing demand for commercially bred animals.
• Enriching your life with a loyal, grateful companion.

“By adopting a rescue dog, you are making a life-changing difference — not just for that one animal, but for the future of animal welfare in South Africa,” says Miles.

Sources: Supplied

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Or watch an episode of Good Things TV below, a show created to offer South Africans balance in a world with what feels like constant bad news. We’re here to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in South Africa & we’ll leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.

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84 vultures have been rescued from a devastating case of poisoning in the Kruger National Park thanks to joint team efforts:

Kruger National Park, South Africa (08 May 2025) — Thanks to an incredible effort, 84 vultures have been rescued from a devastating case of poisoning in the Kruger National Park’s Mahlangeni Section.

The joint teamwork of SANParks rangers and the Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) officials saw the birds saved within hours after the EWT’s pioneering wildlife poisoning surveillance and detection system.

The alert, triggered at 06:05 am on 6 May flagged suspicious activity in a remote section of the park, and by 08:20, the teams arrived on site.

What they arrived to was a grim and heartbreaking scene—a mass poisoning event that impacted hundreds of vultures. The poisoning was the result of an elephant carcass laced with highly toxic agrochemical pesticides—poison laid by poachers to harvest body parts for the illegal wildlife trade.

As SANParks and the EWT stated in a joint statement, the incident is one of the largest seen in the park. 116 Vultures were found dead at the scene.

But, all was not lost thanks to the SANParks and EWT boots on the ground. They quickly treated birds that were sick but still alive with emergency vulture first aid (atropine, activated charcoal, and fluid therapy) whilst waiting for reinforcements.

Support teams came from the Moholoholo Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre, Briner Veterinary Services and Wildscapes Veterinary Services. SANParks also activated ranger and aerial support that included the Hope for Wildlife helicopter. This was the first time that SANParks’ choppers were used formally in a wildlife poisoning rescue at such a scale.

Ultimately, 84 vultures (White-backed, Cape and Hooded) were rescued alive. 45 were transported by the EWT’s vulture ambulance while 39 more were airlifted to the SANParks K9 facility in Phalaborwa for immediate monitoring. The final group of vulture survivors were transported to Moholoholo later that evening.

The Growing Threat of Poison Poaching

Shares SANParks and the EWT:

“This horrific incident is part of a broader crisis unfolding across southern Africa: the escalating use of poisons in wildlife poaching. Poachers increasingly using agricultural toxins to target high-value species—not just vultures, but also lions, whose body parts are in growing demand for traditional medicine or muthi.

“This incident is a setback to the vulture population in the Greater Kruger Landscape which is trying to recover from similar incidents in the past. SANParks is collaborating with various agencies and institutions to address the current increase in particularly poisoning incidents.

“The latest operation highlights the importance of partnerships in addressing this problem. The recovery and treatment of the live vultures would not have been possible if such partnerships were not in place.We commend every individual who responded to this tragedy. Their courage, skill, and relentless commitment transformed a potential extinction-level event into one of the most successful vulture rescues ever recorded. The operation saw helicopters making multiple trips between the incident site and Phalaborwa throughout the day to assist with the movement of the vultures.”

Sources: Media Release

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Or watch an episode of Good Things TV below, a show created to offer South Africans balance in a world with what feels like constant bad news. We’re here to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in South Africa & we’ll leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.

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Holly, the little dachshund-staffie, went missing following the Table Mountain wildfires. Capetonians from all over put their efforts into spreading the word and keeping an eye out for her, and after what felt like an eternity of searching, she has been reunited with her family.

Cape Town, South Africa (02 May 2025) — When wildfires strike, there are many consequences beyond excess smoke. While we often think of worst-case scenarios from a human-impact perspective, there’s another side of the coin in which wildlife and domestic animals alike are heavily impacted. Fires on the loose mean a hugely distressing time for animals, which can lead to runaways, injuries, and worse. For the owner of Holly, the little dachshund-staffie, the past few days meant worrying about all of the above. But in fantastic news for her many search parties, Holly has been found at last!

As Animal Welfare Society of South Africa explains:

“After three long days of searching the burnt mountain—through scorching days and cold, dark nights—Holly is finally safe at home.”

The Cape of Good Hope SPCA dubbed the news as something “everybody had been praying for.” This, because Holly’s disappearance on account of the wildfires had been widely circulated on social media; with many locals taking to spread the word and keep an eye out for the chocolate pooch.

“Her owner’s son, Gavin, responded to a sighting at Cape Point Vineyards and was finally able to catch her,” said the Cape of Good Hope SPCA.

Peter Edward Deering, her owner, explained that she had initially gone missing on Silvermine near the MTB parking area on Sunday morning.

Both the Cape of Good Hope SPCA and the Animal Welfare Society offered Holly medical check-ups, with Miss Holly said to have gone for a full assessment at the AWS hospital.

“This work can break us sometimes – but today we celebrate in spite of it. The fire took so much but today it gave us a beautiful reunion! To everyone who kept an eye out, sent in a lead, or whispered a prayer for her safe return — thank you.” the Cape of Good Hope SPCA shared.

You can support future rescue efforts, here!

Sources: Animal Welfare Society of SA; Cape of Good Hope SPCA 

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Or watch an episode of Good Things TV below, a show created to offer South Africans balance in a world with what feels like constant bad news. We’re here to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in South Africa & we’ll leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.

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In one of those rare moments where one gets to witness hope in action, a community gathered to bid farewell to 10 African Penguins as they waddled back to the sea, released into their wild home once again. Have a look:

Plettenberg Bay, South Africa (29 April 2025) — Some goodbyes are a lot more sweet than bitter. Such was the case for a community who gathered at Plettenberg Bay’s Lookout Beach on 26 April (just after World Penguin Day) to bid 10 African Penguins a crowd-attracting farewell.

This was no ordinary goodbye. Rather, it was a long-awaited one (and not because the penguins were bad house guests).

These critically Endangered African Penguins had undergone months of rehabilitation and recovery, as photographer Stephan van Wyk shared.

It took a village, as it often does with stories of this nature, to rescue, nurture and ensure the penguins were ready for release. This was heartwarmingly evident in those cheering the penguins on in their goodbye waddle.

The Tenikwa Wildlife Rehabilitation and Awareness Centre put into perspective how many different groups make a happy ending like this possible:

“This penguin release would not have been successful without NVT assisting with the release on the day and for rescuing some of the penguins off the beach. Robberg Veterinary Clinic for assisting us with getting them ready for release and getting the injured and sick penguins the right treatment so we can rehabilitate them.

SANParks for going above and beyond to rescue penguins, usually after hours and getting them to us safely, Birdlife Plettenberg Bay for their fundraising all year round and the commentary on release day, Plett stranding network and CapeNature for rescuing penguins, Ocean Sailing Charters who monitor the weather and swells for us for release day and a few days afterwards to make sure we are releasing them at the right time.

SAPS for assisting us with getting the penguins onto the beach safely with the crowds and parking and for monitoring the crowd in a relaxed manner which gave us peace of mind that we could focus on the penguins, and last but not least, the public who came to the release today, the guests that visit Tenikwa Wildlife Rehabilitation and Awareness Centre and Tenikwa Wellness SPA which enables us to raise the money to save and release these penguins and other indigenous wildlife.”

Watch: 10 African Penguins Find Their Freedom in Plett

Sources: Stephan van Wyk; Tenikwa Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre 

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Or watch an episode of Good Things TV below, a show created to offer South Africans balance in a world with what feels like constant bad news. We’re here to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in South Africa & we’ll leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.

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When one bodyboarding Kowie Granny Grommet’s morning adventures led her into a rip current, a man who attempted to rescue her soon found himself being pulled out to sea with her. Luckily for both the Granny Grommets, help in the nick of time was on their 2025 bingo cards.

Port Alfred, South Africa (15 April 2025) — A Friday morning dip and dive at Port Alfred’s East Beach quickly turned into something more dire after two Kowie Granny Grommets found themselves caught up in a rip current.

It’s believed that the female Kowie Granny Grommet (the Granny Grommets are a fun-loving community in which more mature folk partake in surfing activities), had ended up in the rip current first while she was bodyboarding. As for the 67-year-old man who was pulled out to sea alongside her, well, he’d initially gone out with good intentions to rescue his bodyboarding pal (something you should never do without a pink rescue buoy handy or without experience).

At around 9 am that morning, eyewitnesses became concerned that there was a drowning in progress, leading a fellow Granny Grommet to alert the NSRI Port Alfred and its corresponding duty crew to help.

The NSRI’s station 11 rescue base quickly fell into form and immediately launched their rescue craft, Rescue Alpha, whilst rescue swimmers made their way to East Beach with haste.

In mere minutes, the rescue swimmers were ready to assist, and could see the pair caught up in the surf zone as the rip currents pulled them out to sea.

Acting quickly, the NSRI crew pulled both parties out of their plight in record speed, bringing them back to shore to medically assess them.

While everyone breathed a big sigh of relief to see the duo find their land legs again, the NSRI made sure to let the larger group of Grommets know that they were actually at a part of the beach where rip currents are prevalent. The Grommets group made a small move to a safer spot and continued their activities.

Life Hacks: Handling a Rip Current

As shared by the NSRI:

• The first thing to do is to understand if you’re actually in the presence of a rip current.
• These currents are often a different colour to the surrounding sea, and tend to have choppy waters in their channels.
• If you’ve found yourself caught up, don’t desperately race against the current no matter how much of a Chad Le Clos you think you are. Either swim slowly or let the current carry you past the breakers. The good news? The current won’t pull you under its grasp if you’re able to keep yourself afloat.
• Remember, life is like a river, and that sentiment holds a lot of weight if you’re ever in a rip current:

“Take note from looking at the beach of the direction that the current is pulling you, think of it like a river and remember to get out of a river you would swim to the river bank. This means that in a rip current you should swim at 90 degrees to the direction that you are being pulled and then use the waves to help you get back to the beach.”—NSRI.

• Wave for help so that lifeguards can see you’re in trouble.

Helping Someone Else

• If you see someone struggling and there are no professional helpers nearby, look out for the NSRI Pink Rescue Buoy, or something that can float. In some cases, these can float out to the struggle area.
• Still, getting help from a lifeguard or calling the NSRI is always a safer bet.
• Pro tip: The Pink Rescue Buoy signs have emergency numbers on them for you to call for help!
• Extra pro tip: Once again, don’t attempt any Olympic swimmer stunts in trying to rescue someone else if you have no training or a Pink Rescue Buoy at hand. This could mean two people in danger and one less to call for help if you venture in untrained.

Sources: NSRI; GTG

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Or watch an episode of Good Things TV below, a show created to offer South Africans balance in a world with what feels like constant bad news. We’re here to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in South Africa & we’ll leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.

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A Leopard Tortoise painted and named Blue has been rescued by the Wild Heart Wildlife Foundation! Here, he will undergo big efforts to remove the paint problems impacting his health.

Limpopo, South Africa (31 March 2025) — A Leopard Tortoise named and painted Blue has been rescued and is on the slow, but steady road to recovery, thanks to the Wild Heart Wildlife Foundation team.

Leopard Tortoises can find themselves in numerous situations that pull them from their natural homes, like ending up in the illegal wildlife and pet trades, or in the yards of traditional healers, as was the case for Blue.

The Leopard Tortoise is one of the largest tortoises on the African continent. This, coupled with a generous lifespan, positions the animal to be seen as a symbol of strength and endurance. This symbolism is particularly true for Blue, who, as the Wild Heart Wildlife Foundation’s co-founder Carina Crayton shares, is a survivor.

“Blue, a Leopard Tortoise, was rescued when he got out of the yard of the Sangoma (traditional healer) who painted him,” Carina explains, adding that the paint was likely for a form of identification.

However, paint is not something to brush off when it comes to shelled creatures.

“Tortoise’s shells are not just armour; they are an integral part of their skeletal structure, with their ribs and spine fused to the shell,” Carina says.

“Their shells are porous, and this porosity allows tortoises to absorb moisture through their shells, which is particularly important for young tortoises and those living in arid environments,” Carina explains. “Because of this permeability, painting a tortoise’s shell can be harmful, as the paint can block the absorption of moisture and sunlight, which is needed for vitamin D synthesis and Calcium [absorption]”.

Thanks to Blue’s rescuer, Loraine Botha and Martin van der Breggen, who transported Blue to the wildlife rescue and rehabilitation facility, the Leopard Tortoise has a fighting chance at a new and better life.

The team stabilised him and started working on the paint removal, which Carina says will be both time-consuming and stressful for Blue. However, it’s all necessary to get him healthy again.

“We have a specialised, non-toxic, organic product which we are using to help lift the paint,” Carina says.

For those looking to support rescues like Blue’s, Carina is hosting a birthday fundraiser in honour of her foundation’s mission to serve wildlife, which you can find here. 

Sources: Carina Crayton; Wild Heart Wildlife Foundation

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Two German travellers unintentionally extended their visit to Table Mountain’s trails well past bedtime recently. But, thanks to the Wilderness Search And Rescue team, the late-night misadventure turned into a successful homecoming.

Cape Town, South Africa (18 March 2025) — Two German hikers unintentionally took the path less travelled while exploring Table Mountain recently, leading to a late-night rescue and, hopefully, important lessons learned.

The hikers had decided to take the India Venster trail—a challenging route, but one that’s doable when you know where to go and can see your way in the light of day. Unfortunately for the pair, a wrong turn took them to unfamiliar territory that would later require a late-night rescue that reached into the early hours of the morning.

“Roughly halfway up the trail, they lost their way and mistakenly crossed over Kloof Corner Ridge onto the Grotto Fountain Cairn Traverse,” explained the Wilderness Search and Rescue, who helped the hikers get home.

The team added that the hikers ended all the way up at Cairn Buttress (which is above Camps Bay) before they realised their wrong turn.

Before 9 pm, the hikers lodged a call for help. The Wilderness Search and Rescue team quickly rallied to the rescue, jumping into what would become a lengthy mission.

Ferried up to the Upper Cable Station, the ‘rescue’ cable car helped the team find the tourists. However, finding the tourists turned into something of a wild goose hunt. Several hours passed until the hikers were finally located just ahead of 2 am where they were greeted with torches for the dark and the warmth of a relieved team.

After being guided down the Lower Cable Station, the late-night rescue (or early-morning rescue at this point) was signed off as done and dusted at 3:47 am.

While everyone involved made it down safe and sound, spokesperson David Nel urges the lesson in the misadventure.

“We want to remind all outdoor enthusiasts that the seasons are changing and ask them to plan accordingly,” David says.

“Start any outdoor activities earlier remembering that the sun sets earlier as the seasons start to change. Pack a torch and an extra warm layer of clothing before venture outdoors. Most importantly, ensure you save the correct emergency number and don’t wait, call us sooner—021 937 0300.”

You can support the WSAR here. 

Sources: WSAR

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Or watch an episode of Good Things TV below, a show created to offer South Africans balance in a world with what feels like constant bad news. We’re here to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in South Africa & we’ll leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.

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Rescued lion Muheeb recently stole our hearts! In a clip shared by Animal Defenders International, Muheeb is seen with four box options to choose from before he settles on the heart and charges away with his happy catch:

Free State, South Africa (17 February 2025) — One of the Kuwait 6 lions, a male named Muheeb, recently stole all of our hearts in addition to the heart he picked for himself.

Those who followed the Kuwait 6 story know that this lion, along with others, overcame great adversity in their lives.

Muheeb was rescued from illegal Trophy Pet trade, and like his friends, endured a long and winding road before coming to South Africa where the Animal Defenders International Wildlife Sanctuary in the Free State would become home in a victory for big cat conservationists everywhere.

In a heartwarming video shared by Animal Defenders International that caught the lion having a little fun, Muheeb is faced with an important choice—choosing his favourite Valentine’s box.

Without hesitation, the majestic male headed straight in the direction of the surprise he wanted most—the box boasting the bright red heart!

This moment is a reminder of how far Muheeb has come as well as the life he can now live thanks to the humans who made sure his story would not end without a fight.

And while he has another battle to face due to his recently diagnosed inoperable cancer, the ADI team share that they are committed to giving him “the best possible life for as long as possible.”

Source: Animal Defenders International

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