Cango Chronicles - Page 2

Sometimes, the right person arrives at exactly the right time. As Cango Wildlife celebrates its 40th year, we are embracing a season of renewal. From conservation initiatives and visitor experiences to exciting developments across our facility, this milestone year is about honouring our past while boldly shaping our future. One of the most exciting additions to that journey has been welcoming Catherine Eybers to the Cango Wildlife family.

Behind every healthy animal is a dedicated caregiver. Behind every successful conservation programme is a team of professionals committed to learning, growing and continually improving the way they care for wildlife. That is why we are proud to announce that our Animal Care Team has officially joined the South African Association for Animal Keepers (SAAKA), an organisation dedicated to supporting animal care professionals through education, collaboration and the sharing of best practices.

In the weeks following the devastating floods that impacted Cango Wildlife and the Greater Oudtshoorn community, support arrived in many forms. Volunteers rolled up their sleeves. Businesses donated supplies. Friends offered encouragement. Then came an unexpected message from South African motivational poet and storyteller, Fanie Walkenshaw better known as Left Sleeve. Having followed the impact of the floods, Left Sleeve reached out to Cango Wildlife with a simple but heartfelt offer. He...

Every memorable visitor experience is built upon a network of passionate people, unique attractions, welcoming accommodation, exceptional food, and businesses that believe in promoting not only themselves, but the destination as a whole. It is this spirit of collaboration that formed the foundation of the recent Big Tree Marketing Educational, hosted by Cango Wildlife in partnership with Oudtshoorn & De Rust Tourism. Held on 23 June 2026, the evening brought together leading...

Protecting wildlife means protecting the ecosystems they depend on, supporting the communities that live alongside them, and inspiring people to become ambassadors for the natural world. True conservation recognises that people and nature are deeply connected, and that caring for one inevitably means caring for the other. During their recent educational programme at Cango Wildlife, students from Loop Abroad experienced this connection firsthand. While their time in South Africa was centred around...

There is a moment, in every training session, that is easy to miss if you are not paying attention. Speckles is our Spotted-Necked Otter, and she is, by any measure, extraordinary. She moves through water the way light moves through glass, effortless and fluid, before launching herself onto land with the barely-contained energy of an animal that finds the world endlessly fascinating. She is intelligent, inquisitive, and entirely herself, and every session...

There is a particular silence that most men know how to perform. It arrives with the question "how are you?" and it sounds something like: fine. Work's busy. Can't complain. On the morning of 26 June 2026, that silence was invited to leave. Cango Wildlife’s male staff gathered for a men's mental health seminar organised by one of our own animal caregivers, Siyabonga Dlamini, in honour of Men's Mental Health Month. Our...

For many years, the Cheetah Preservation Foundation has stood as a symbol of passion, dedication, and hope for the future of wildlife conservation. Through rescue efforts, education, conservation initiatives, and unwavering compassion, the foundation has touched countless lives, both human and animal, while helping create a future where people and wildlife can thrive together.

Recently, one of our much-loved brown lemurs, Lilo, underwent an important veterinary procedure after developing a condition known as glaucoma. Glaucoma occurs when pressure builds up inside the eye due to fluid not draining properly. Over time, this pressure can damage the eye itself as well as the optic nerve - the part responsible for sending visual information to the brain. In both humans and animals, glaucoma can become extremely painful if...

When the floods came, they came without mercy. What started as rain quickly turned into something the region was simply not prepared for. Water tore through the Klein Karoo with a force that felt impossible to stop. Roads disappeared overnight. Bridges collapsed, pathways and homes were swallowed by mud and raging water. Places filled with memories, hard work, and years of dedication were left broken in a matter of hours. There were...