PLETTENBERG BAY NEWS - Janet Forrest, co-owner of Plettenberg Bay’s Radical Raptors, a non-profit organisation, has taken on a project to raise funds to assist with the rehabilitation of birds of prey.

Radical Raptors is a rehabilitation centre that aims at the rescue, rehabilitation and release of birds of prey.
"We are committed to raising public awareness and to the conservation of these raptors within our environment," explains Forrest.

At the beginning of the year Forrest was inspired by friends attempting to accomplish an alcohol-free February.
Instead of abstaining for a month, she embarked on her first 100 day journey, "that one of no alcohol," she explains.
She succeeded in and loved the challenge and viewed the 100 day period as a positive journey and one of personal progress.

100 days - 100 sketches
Thinking back on the success of her first 100 day project, Forrest decided to take from her college days, the concept creating a sketch day, and to commit to it for 100 days.

The first sketch of her current 100 day journey was created as a birthday present for Dennis Robson, (life and business partner); a sketch of a Crowned Eagle.

"While sketching, my mind wandered to how hard Dennis has worked over the last two and a half years establishing Radical Raptors, rehabilitating injured birds and presenting informative demonstrations to visitors to the centre.
"Sure, I had helped but there is a passion that comes through when Dennis works with the birds and I wanted to find that for myself and I wanted it to be part of what we were involved with."

Forrest explains that her love for birds started when she and Robson lived in the Okavango Delta, Botswana.
"When Dennis drove the boat carrying my group from our truck into his camp on our first visit, a fish eagle swooped down and flew alongside us the entire journey. I was captivated."

Forrest completed her first year of studying Basic Art at Cape Technikon, and was advised to pursue a course in Fine Art, advice that chose to ignore, and instead pursued interior design. Unfortunately this did not prove to be what really inspired Forrest. Today she is thankful that during her "first year at tech I was lucky enough to be taught life-drawing by local artist, Leon Vermeulen" - a skill which is now proving to be very useful.

Explaining what this 100 day journey means to her, she says: "This 100 day journey is a personally positive path, but one which I hope will draw attention to the plight and magnificence of birds of prey and their importance in our environment."
She stressed that at the end of the 100 days she hopes to auction off the sketches and donate 50% to the rehabilitation centre.

"The money raised will be going towards an on-site weatherproof awareness/ learning facility that can be utilised as a classroom or conference facility to house educational material and audio-visual equipment."

For further information on Forrest’s 100 day journey, the public is asked to access the Facebook page, www.facebook.com/radicalraptors, or the website, www.radicalraptors.co.za.


A Spotted Eagle Owl, one of the sketches by Janet Forrest during her ’100 days - 100 sketches’ project.


Janet Forrest, co-owner of Radical Raptors, has embarked on a ‘100 day - 100 sketches’ project to raise funds for the centre.

ARTICLE: FRAN KIRSTEN, KNYSNA-PLETT HERALD REPORTER.