If you find an injured or orphaned animal, don't despair - help is only a phone call or a mouse-click away! Wildlife rehabilitation in South Africa received a considerable boost with the launch of the Sasol / Wildcare Helpline at the Endangered Wildlife Trust offices in Johannesburg on 24 November 1998. 

The Sasol / Wildcare Helpline will provide a 24 hour national telephonic advisory service and referral system for wildlife casualties. It will also provide an information service on all aspects of wildlife rehabilitation and care for wildlife rehabilitators, veterinarians, conservationists, zoo and animal welfare personnel. The Helpline number is: (012) 808-1106. 

The Helpline, established by Wildcare in collaboration with Sasol, will be manned by carefully selected and trained volunteers. The volunteers will be equipped with manuals that have been compiled to facilitate rapid response and relevant assistance. Sasol has partnered Wildcare in a number of wildlife projects helping to develop the field of wildlife rehabilitation, welfare and care. Addressing guests at the launch Mr Johan Fourie, Chief Executive Officer of Sasol, said that the company is proud to be associated with such a project. Sasol aims to make the public at large and specifically the youth aware of wildlife conservation and rehabilitation. The company also endeavours to stimulate an interest in wildlife rehabilitation amongst previously disadvantaged communities. 

The Helpline includes a Wildcare website which was designed by the Pretoria-based Internet company WildNet Africa. Through the power of the world wide web people now have access to assistance, information and news regarding the rehabilitation of injured and orphaned wildlife. 

According to Karen Trendler, Director of Wildcare, the Helpline and website will be invaluable as wildlife casualties will reach their destinations quicker. Speaking at the launch, she thanked the main sponsor, Sasol, and everybody else who contributed to the project. She also said that the partnership with the Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) is held in high esteem as it enables Wildcare to practise wildlife rehabilitation in a much broader sense. 

It is anticipated that participation and support of the conservation community through contacts and networking, information, input, discussion and feedback, will help to grow and nurture the Helpline to its maximum potential. The database and network will be constantly upgraded and expanded, and the Helpline operators' skills developed and extended on an ongoing basis. 

The launch of the Sasol / Wildcare Helpline is yet another exciting stage in "conservation through ethical and responsible wildlife rehabilitation and welfare".