At Animal Survival International, we believe in the value of every animal life. Each wild species plays a role in the health of the ecosystem it calls home, and as such deserves our protection – from fragile hedgehogs and flying foxes to endangered pangolins and elephants. A healthy animal ecosystem is a healthy planet – and our survival, quite literally, depends on it.

Here is how we aided wild animals great and small in April.

South Africa, Hoedspruit  

Supplying milk formula to orphaned elephant calf, Phabeni

Credit: HERD

In the Greater Barberton Nature Reserve in Mpumalanga, a dedicated anti-poaching team works around the clock to protect the region’s endangered rhinos. This unit is supported by canine and mounted patrols which are pivotal to their work in stamping out poaching and illegal activity in the region.

Credit: HERD

In March, our supporters contributed to the dental and veterinary health check-ups for the anti-poaching dogs and horses, helping to ensure that these four-legged heroes are healthy, strong and ready to help tackle crime. Thank you for supporting important anti-poaching initiatives in South Africa.

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Credit: HERD

Greece, Attica 

Supporting helpless hedgehogs hemmed in by habitat loss

Fewer and fewer safe spaces are left for hedgehogs near Athens in Greece; their habitats are disappearing before their eyes. They are in terrible and increasing danger, particularly vulnerable pregnant hedgehogs and newborn hoglets.

Our partner, ANIMA (Wildlife Rehabilitation Association), rescues hedgehogs and treats them for injuries, poisoning from pesticides, and diseases like mange, which is deadly if not treated. Once rehabilitated, the animals are released outside of suburban areas to give them the best possible chance of survival in wild and semi-wild areas. Thanks to the compassion of our supporters, we were able to donate towards ANIMA’s crucial work for these fragile little critters.

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Credit: ANIMA

Seychelles, Mahé 

Doubling our donors’ support for Seychelles’ flying foxes

In April, a generous donor pledged to match our supporters’ donations towards the flying foxes of Mahé, which are relentlessly hunted for stomach-churning “bat curry.” Those who manage to evade the crude traps strung up in fruit trees face a range of other threats, including powerline collisions, disorientating street lights, and food loss due to a growing human population. Frequently, infant flying foxes are left injured and orphaned, and without quick and accurate treatment, they stand little chance of survival.

Funds donated by our kind-hearted supporters were matched, and our partner, Protect Paradise Seychelles, is getting closer to their dream of purchasing an X-ray machine to accurately diagnose and treat injuries. Thank you for caring about these winged ecosystem engineers.

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Credit: ASI/Byron Seale

Nigeria, Lagos 

Building the country’s first dedicated pangolin ICU and nursery

In Nigeria, almost every species is facing extinction, and pangolins are among the top of the list. By now, you know that these shy, nocturnal creatures are being poached almost to extermination – but you may not know that infant pangolins are considered “worthless” by poachers. As such, they are discarded like rubbish when they are just days or weeks old, and will die without specialized care.

Together with our partner, Greenfingers Wildlife Conservation Initiative (GWCI), we are working to build the first pangolin intensive care unit (ICU) and nursery in Lagos, which will provide life-saving care to infant pangolins, and rehabilitate them until they are old enough to be released into monitored and protected areas. Through our donors’ support of this project, we have raised funds to continue construction on this vital hospital – stay tuned for progress updates, coming soon.

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Credit: ASI/Byron Seale

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