Tenikwa closes rehab division

PLETTENBERG BAY NEWS - While Tenikwa Wildlife and Rehabilitation Centre in the Crags, a popular tourism destination, is still welcoming human visitors, it has decided to cease wildlife rehabilitation, but intensify their focus on the education and conservation aspects of tourism.

They have been providing care and rehabilitation to sick and injured animals of the surrounding areas for almost two decades.

The centre's co-founder, Mandy Freeman, said they had to make the difficult decision after the end of March this year.

"We have however been helping out with some new penguins that have come in recently until authorities have decided where they should go. We are also still finishing off the rehabilitation of some animals, including some longer-term penguins. We will continue until those have completed their rehabilitation process," she said.

One of many penguins that had been rehabilitated at Tenikwa.

One of the reasons behind the decision was the costs involved. "Having to find the funds to cover rehabilitation of all these animals for the entire area is pretty onerous for one small facility to fund off tourism and at the same time ensure the tourism side is covering its costs and staying relevant."

She said after 17 years of operating, the Covid-19 pandemic changed many aspects for them, including the sustainability of their rehabilitation work.

"The pandemic seems a distant memory for many, but it has taken its toll on industries like tourism, that provides our main funding."

The non-releasable animals will remain at Tenikwa and the public-facing side will also remain open. Tours and accommodation facilities will also continue to operate as normal.

"While we will no longer be rehabilitating wild animals to return to nature, we are still fully committed to using our facilities to raise awareness about South African wildlife and the impacts of human-wildlife conflict, which has always been one of the prime missions at Tenikwa."

Tenikwa's penguin rehabilitation area.