Savannah & Cubs

Working in the field of wildlife rehabilitation sometimes exceed the tasks of treating injured or orphaned animals.  Sometimes wildlife rehabilitators are drawn into the devious world of illegal wild animal trading.  In 2005, SanWild received information about an illegal leopard smuggling network operating in Limpopo Province where the SanWild Sanctuary is situated.  Further investigations revealed a well oiled syndicate that was trapping leopard illegally for canned hunting purposes.  During various sting operations a total of 5 leopards were rescued alive and well in a period of 7 days before they could be hunted.  Four individuals were charged criminally and found guilty of the illegal trade in endangered species.

 
One of the leopards rescued was named Savannah.  Sadly at the time of her illegal trapping she was lactating, but all attempts to get the offender to disclose in which area she had been captured failed and her cubs could not be found to save their lives.  This poor unfortunate create found a new safe home in the SanWild Wildlife Sanctuary and have now produced another set of cuddly cubs.  The family is doing well and we trust that she will build a new live for herself in an area that she can finally call her own as all land protected by the Murry Foundation and SanWild is protected in perpetuity for the animals themselves