We think so often about our own well, yet what is about the well of others, like that of earth’s wildlife?
Today I am visiting the Moholoholo rehab center in South Africa, Limpopo Province, Hoedspruit. Moholoholo is a rehabilitation center dedicated to the perpetual journey of raising awareness of the vulnerability of our wildlife, to aid the animals that have been harmed and progressively gift South Africa’s wildlife the life that they deserve.
Whether that means giving animals a forever home at their Moholoholo rehab center or releasing recovered animals not only back into their habitat but, whenever possible, releasing them into their new habitat where they are out of harm’s way.
Operating since 1991, Moholoholo has faced many challenges yet their sense of purpose towards Africa’s wildlife is so much greater. This is not only what one can read no; it is also felt when one visits their rehabilitation center.
As I joined the daily morning tour that Moholoholo offers as a gateway of consciousness to the world and the meaning of wildlife, the circumstances they face, as well as what it means to be part of such a significant force for good, my parents and I got to meet a man you’ve probably heard of before. He is the man who runs and leads the Moholoholo rehabilitation center. No wonder this man has been a major contributor to the growth of Moholoholo through his knowledge and experience, given the fact that he has been spending his days living for the purpose of the well of animals since the age of 4.
Brian Jones, a serene, warm-hearted, compassionate, and ever so determined man of his craft, gave us an insight into his day-to-day life, vulnerable moments that have passed since the opening of Moholoholo and what a day at the Rehabilitation center looks like. The clinic where injured wildlife gets treated with deepest care and respect, the wide variety of wildlife species that get to call this place of embrace home, an insight into knowledge, hows, a general understanding and further possibilities Moholoholo rehab center offers their visitors where all points attended in the tour we assisted to.
The guides expressed their compassion and respect towards the circumstances the African wildlife faces, and the animals Moholoholo has embraced into their family through the words they (and all other staff members and volunteers of Moholoholo) spoke about the animals and the way they interacted with them.
This was shown, for example, when the female lion and male lion enjoyed their hand-fed raw breakfast, big, hopeful eyes peeked out from behind a pocket at me, eyes of the irresistibly adorable and nocturnal, rescued bush baby that, with instructions and supervision of Moholoholo staff I fed what was in their ready-made pipet. My parents and I got the opportunity to drive out with Brian Jones and Moholoholo volunteers to feed Moholoholos grazing animals and, believe it or not, to see the second largest land animal on earth, the hippopotamus, whose eyes lingered 1cm above water elevation waiting for their next feast.
The several hours I spent here at Moholoholo were nothing but led by the words: passion, compassion, purpose, and embrace.
People who care for Africa’s wildlife like family. All this without any governmental support. You have opened my sentiment, understanding, and thought about our wildlife on earth and showed me and my family a startling and remarkable few hours. For this and for your mission-led operation that makes today and tomorrow a brighter day for our wildlife, especially that of South Africa.
You are indeed “The Very Great One”, Moholoholo.
