Cango Wildlife: Hit Twice in 29 Days
Because of Animals Foundation
On the 6th of May, the worst flood in decades tore through Cango Wildlife.
Less than a month later, on the 4th of June, a second flood struck before recovery was complete.
On June 4th weeks of hard recovery work was wiped out by a second flood.
Cango Wildlife staff relocated dozens of animals to safety as we watched the Grobbelaars River swallow half of our property and those around us. We rebuilt what we could. We worked tirelessly to restore habitats and return animals to their homes. One by one, species began moving back into their familiar surroundings, marking an important milestone in our recovery efforts.
Three weeks later, on June 4th, it happened again.
FLOOD ONE: WHAT IT COST
By the time the floodwaters receded, the damage was extensive. Big cat habitats had been submerged. Lemur Island's perimeter wall had been severely damaged. Water systems, drainage infrastructure, fencing and flood protection measures had been destroyed or washed away. Nevada, our White Bengal Tiger, was carefully sedated and moved to secure accommodation, while species ranging from lemurs and flamingos to ducks and duikers were transferred to temporary habitats across the facility.
Every move required planning, teamwork and an unwavering focus on animal welfare. The repair bill from that first flood alone came to R2.5 million, just for the first phase: structural repairs and the feed and veterinary care our animals still needed while our gates stayed shut. We started raising funds. We started rebuilding. We raised our electrical units off the ground so next time, if there was a next time, we wouldn't lose power again. We had no idea how soon we'd need that decision to pay off.
Animals being returned to their habitats after our first recovery efforts.
FLOOD TWO: WHAT WE HAD JUST FIXED, UNDONE
Our animals went back into their permanent habitats on a Monday. By Tuesday, we were crating them again. The second flood hit Wednesday, June 4th, just 29 days after the first. The ground was already saturated. Rivers were already swollen. Infrastructure weakened by the first flood had little chance of withstanding another.
Areas that had only recently been repaired were damaged once more, reopening the same wounds. Cheetahland buried in mud again, every pump ripped out and repositioned again, and the Lemur Island dam, already weakened in May, cracked completely this time. Cheetahs went back to the private reserve. The Caracal went back into temporary housing. White lions and our Leopard were shut back into their night quarters on higher ground.
Our lemurs went back to the care centre. Everyone we had just brought home, we had to move all over again. That whiplash is the part no repair estimate can capture. Having finally gotten them home, and then immediately having to take it all away from them again. One thing did go right: because we'd raised those electrical units after the first flood, power was back in the big cat habitats within two days this time, instead of the far longer wait we faced in May. It's a small mercy, but it's proof that everything we invest now protects them next time.
Recovery efforts wiped out after weeks of hard work and animals being rehoused.
WHERE WE STAND TODAY
Cheetahland, Lemur Falls, Kuranda Forest and our Kiddies Play Area are open. But Lemur Island is completely non-operational until its perimeter wall is rebuilt, our flamingos are still confined to a temporary space, and our cage dive area remains closed.
Every gabion and river barrier we had is gone, washed away by both events. There is nothing left standing between this facility and the next flood and among the most needed materials are:
Building Materials
- Crusher dust - 12 Cubic metres
- Building sand - 12 Cubic metres
- 13mm Quarry stone - 12 Cubic metres
- 19mm Quarry stone - 12 Cubic metres
- Medium river rock for gabion packing - 18 Cubic Metres
- Cement - 150 Bags
Fencing
- Clearvue fencing (2,0 x 3,0m) - 300 linear metres
Flood Control and Drainage
- Gabions - As many as can be donated or supplied
- Water pipes and fittings - 50mm to 210mm in diameter including elbows (45° bends), stoppers and clamps (50mm to 80mm)
Water Storage
- 10 000 litre JoJo tanks - 6 Units
If your business can help, reach us at boa@cango.co.za.
The combined structural damage from both floods now totals approximately R4.5 million. Our current goal of R2.5 million is the critical first phase: repairing our flood defences and keeping over 300 animals fed and cared for while our doors stay closed.
WHAT YOUR DONATION PROTECTS
Rebuilding the gabion and river barrier system between us and the Grobbelaars River.
Structural repair to Lemur Island, Cheetahland and every habitat hit twice.
Feed and veterinary care for 300+ animals with zero visitor income.
The livelihoods of 160 staff who have shown up every single day, flood or no flood.
Every cent goes directly to these things.
South African donors receive an automatic Section 18A tax-deductible receipt through Because of Animals Foundation NPC (PBO No. 930059712).
For Direct Bank Transfers:
Account Name: Because of Animals Foundation NPC
Bank Name: FNB (First National Bank)
Account Number: 6311 9934 213
Branch Name: Oudtshoorn, South Africa
Branch Code / Routing: 210414
Swift/IBAN Code: FIRNZAJJ
HELP US TO HELP THEM
Cango Wildlife has been part of the Klein Karoo for over 40 years. We've carried this facility through droughts, through loss, through a pandemic that nearly closed us for good. We have never asked our community for help twice in one month, because we have never needed to. We watched our animals go home, and we watched them get taken from their homes again three weeks later. We are asking you, with everything we have left, to help us make sure we never have to do that a third time.