In my three years of dedicated wildlife rehabilitation, I’ve witnessed countless moments of joy and triumph, but I truly believe the saddest part of it all is encountering the orphaned animals who come to me after their mothers have been brutally killed. These innocent babies are often sold as if they’re commodities, devoid of feeling or fear. It’s impossible to imagine the horror they endure: first, watching their mothers fall, then being captured by individuals who feel nothing but greed, seeing them merely as a means to make money.

I’ve seen them carried in Shoprite bags, dragged by their legs while already traumatized, paraded around all day just to be sold for a “good” price. These sellers spin stories: “I picked it up, if you don’t take it, I’ll kill it,” or “Please buy it, I need food for my children.” But these are cruel lies. The money they receive is often spent recklessly, only to repeat the same horrific cycle tomorrow. By purchasing these animals, we inadvertently create a profitable business for them: kill the mother, sell the baby.

The Road to Trust and Healing

When these traumatized babies finally reach me, they are scared and confused. The very figure that killed their mother now appears to be helping them. They must grapple with the devastating reality that their mother is gone. While we make their environment as comfortable as possible, it can never replace the bond they lost. It takes immense time, patience, and sometimes many tears to finally get them to drink or eat. Slowly, they begin to trust, but that trust is only for me – we must carefully prevent them from imprinting on humans.

Imagine releasing an animal back into the wild that is accustomed to human interaction, only for them to walk right up to a stranger. All you want to do is shower them with love and tell them not all people are bad, but you can’t. The risk of imprinting is too great and poses a huge problem for their survival in the wild. How do you take away that baby’s pain? How do you try to show them you are not the bad person who killed their mother? It takes so much time.

I wish you could some days see the fear and confusion in their eyes; it is truly heartbreaking. Every animal I’ve rescued holds a special place in my heart. Last year, Ivan, a vervet monkey, was my last baby of the season, and he was profoundly affected. He clung to me 24/7. When he slept, he would wake up screaming, biting, and grasping, clearly tormented by nightmares. They have feelings, they remember, and they relive their trauma for a long time.

They Belong in the Wild

I am happy to report that Rambo, Oscar, and Ivan are now doing amazingly well at WATCH, but the process to get them there is incredibly hard work. For any animal taken from its mother or the wild, I can promise you: they do not make good pets. They will always retain that wild instinct, no matter what.

Buying these animals from poachers is not saving them. You are creating a demand that fuels a cruel trade. Tomorrow, they will do the exact same thing to someone else. Instead, please engage with us, or call Ezemvelo, the police, or your nearest rehabilitator. But please, do not pay for that animal.

Let’s work together to protect these magnificent creatures and ensure they have a chance at the wild life they deserve.

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