Johannesburg Wildlife Veterinary Hospital

05/06/2025

Thank you Good Things Guy for always shouting loudly for all those who cannot speak.

Johannesburg Wildlife Veterinary Hospital is currently facing a serious financial crisis and is appealing for public support to stay open.

04/06/2025

Flamingo Ambulance

A huge thank you to the kind-hearted people who brought this badly injured and sick young greater flamingo all the way from Zeerust to our hospital.

He was found alone in the middle of nowhere — far from any known flamingo populations — with no clues as to how he sustained such serious injuries or contracted pneumonia.

On arrival, he was immediately placed on IV fluids and started on antibiotics and anti-inflammatory medication. Bloodwork and radiographs suggest a severe injury, possibly affecting his spine.

Right now, he’s under intensive care around the clock. One of the photos shows him being nebulized to help treat his pneumonia.

His condition is critical, and we’re giving him every chance we can. 

Please consider helping us care for him by donating here:
PayPal: https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=SA4BETJ869EG2

SnapScan: https://pos.snapscan.io/qr/PXMP5766

PayFast: https://www.payfast.co.za/donate/go/shop.johannesburgwildlifevet.com

01/06/2025

Barn Owls Get a New Home!

From tiny white fluffs to fully feathered beauties—what a journey for these five barn owl chicks!

Every year, we care for many young owls, and these little ones were no different. With expert veterinary care, proper nutrition, specialised husbandry and enrichment, our team once again gave them the best possible start in life.

When it came time to plan their release, we partnered with the wonderful team at HeronBridge College to provide the perfect site. Once the owls were ready, they were ringed (thank you, Arjen) and moved into a soft-release enclosure on the school grounds.

Here, they’ll spend a few weeks adjusting to their new environment in safety, while receiving support feeding—just as they would have from their parents—until they’re fully self-sufficient.

We believe education is a powerful tool, especially when it involves the future conservationists of tomorrow.

Would your school like to get involved?
Email us at [email protected] to learn more!

31/05/2025

🩵 Slipper Day 2025 🩵

Yesterday, the team at Johannesburg Wildlife Veterinary Hospital kicked off our shoes and slipped into something more comfortable – all for a cause close to our hearts

By donning our slippers and donating R20, we joined thousands of South Africans in supporting Reach For A Dream – an incredible foundation that helps children with life-threatening illnesses turn their dreams into reality. From meeting heroes to creating magical moments, Reach For A Dream brings hope and joy when it’s needed most.

It was a small act for us, but together, these small acts create big magic

The Reach For A Dream Foundation

29/05/2025

True conservation does not follow trends - it sets them.

WATCH: - a Glimpse Behind the Scenes with Dr. Karin Lourens

At a time when the world is waking up to the plight of pangolins, we’re proud to share that the Johannesburg Wildlife Veterinary Hospital has been leading this critical journey in South Africa from the very beginning.

Dr. Lourens was the first veterinarian in South Africa to successfully treat Temminck’s pangolins, pioneering protocols used worldwide today. Her groundbreaking research into pangolin blood values laid the foundation for the effective care and rehabilitation of this elusive and highly trafficked species.

While others are only now climbing aboard the pangolin conservation wagon, our commitment has been unwavering. Our hospital continues to set the standard in pangolin veterinary care — refining treatment protocols, driving research, and working hand-in-hand with select partners and law enforcement to give confiscated pangolins a second chance at life.

Conservation isn’t a trend. It’s a commitment.

Every patient matters. Every life counts.

Watch the video below to hear directly from Dr. Lourens about the pioneering work happening behind our doors.

18/05/2025

Your support helps a long-crested Eagle in Dire Straits

Not long ago, we admitted a badly injured long-crested eagle, later named Barry. We suspect he had been hit by a car, suffering severe head trauma.

On admission, Barry was in shock—unable to stand, unwilling to open his eyes, and worst of all, completely blind. His eyes were fine, but the blindness was caused by trauma to his brain—known as central blindness. This condition is common in birds with head injuries but often missed by those without experience. It carries a guarded prognosis, as damage to the visual cortex isn’t always reversible. Time was critical—the sooner treatment began, the better the chances of reducing brain swelling.

Barry spent weeks with us, receiving intensive care: IV fluids, anti-inflammatories, pain relief, and tube feeding with EmerAidVet Carnivore 3–4 times a day, depending on his metabolic needs. In these cases, supportive care is everything—keeping the body functioning while giving the brain a chance to heal.

It was hard not to lose hope, but we never gave up on him. Slowly, his vision began to return. And then one day, Barry flew onto his perch, grabbed the prey we’d left for him, and ate it—cool as anything, as if nothing had ever been wrong.

Barry could see again!

Once we were absolutely certain his eyesight was fully restored, he was fitted with a SAFRING (thank you, Arjen, for always bringing the bling!) and released at Irene Dairy Farm.

There were many moments when we felt like giving up—but thankfully, we didn’t. Huge thanks to Elaine for being Barry’s tireless champion, even though he was never quite the sharpest tool in the shed!

Please watch the release video in the comment section.

09/05/2025

Tiny Patients with Big Appetites

Meet one of our four orphaned four-striped grass mice (Rhabdomys dilectus)—now thriving thanks to round-the-clock care and a generous diet!

In this clip, you’ll see him happily tucking into his favourite: EmerAid Omnivore—a crucial part of their recovery. Huge thanks to EmerAidVet for your continued sponsorship—your top-quality food makes a world of difference.

These little omnivores are native to much of southern Africa and feed on seeds, fruit, plant matter, Acacia pods, Protea bracts, and even insects. As one of the few diurnal rodents, they play an important role in the food web, supporting diurnal raptors, snakes, caracal, black-backed jackal and small carnivores like African wildcat and mongoose. They’re also useful bio-indicators for environmental change.

Enjoy this short clip of one of our tiniest patients in action—and feel free to share!

26/04/2025

Happy World Veterinary Day!

This year’s theme is “Animal Health Takes a Team” — and it couldn’t be more true!

The World Veterinary Association chose this theme to celebrate the incredible teamwork that keeps animals healthy and cared for. It’s a reminder that veterinary services are dynamic and rely on many hands, skills, and hearts working together — not just veterinarians, but a whole network of passionate people.

Today, we celebrate our amazing team:
Dr K, Wendy, Elaine, Dr Dani, Dr Jess, Dr Nadia, Nicky, Lonely, Charles, Euthmina, Shadreck, and our wonderful volunteers — your dedication, compassion, and tireless hard work are the heartbeat of our facility. We see you. We appreciate you. We thank you!

And to all the incredible people and organizations we collaborate with — the SPCAs, law enforcement, nature conservation teams, veterinary and vet nursing experts, pangolin experts, schools, universities, our sponsors, supporters and every single person who stands up for wildlife and heritage — THANK YOU.
None of this would be possible without you.

Animal health truly takes a team — and we are proud to be part of this global, unstoppable team for good!

24/04/2025

Meet the tater-tots!

They may look like fat furry potatoes, but dassies are tougher and smarter than they seem!

Watch how we care for these resilient little rock hyraxes at the Johannesburg Wildlife Veterinary Hospital and share the stories of Crookshanks and Sticky.

We would love your help in caring for them and getting them back into the wild. Please click on one of these links to support us:

PayPal: https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=SA4BETJ869EG2

SnapScan: https://pos.snapscan.io/qr/PXMP5766

PayFast: https://www.payfast.co.za/donate/go/shop.johannesburgwildlifevet.com

Or you can send an eft to:

Johannesburg Wildlife NPC
FNB Cheque account
Account: 62658400264
Branch Code: 255355
Swift code: FIRNZAJJ