A Life In Care: From Curiosity To Calling

After school, that curiosity became direction. She pursued Conservation Management, studying both Captive Animal Management and Game Ranch Management. Her time at Sondela Academy offered more than theory. It provided access to hands on experience, rehabilitation work, guiding, animal care, and real responsibility. It was there that the path became clear, and she chose to specialise in working directly with animals.

After completing her studies, she found her way to Cango Wildlife. A single application led to an interview, a return trip home, and shortly after, an opportunity. She began as an Animal Handler and Caregiver. From the start, the work was varied, working with mammals and birds, following daily routines that never felt the same twice. Over time, her role expanded, and so did her understanding of the work. It was not about focusing on one species, but rather learning about many, adapting, observing, and growing.

Even her own preferences shifted. Where birds once held little interest, they now stand out as a favourite, particularly raptors such as owls, eagles, hawks, and falcons. Species that require patience, precision, and respect. Today, she works as an Assistant Curator, a role built on years of steady development, shaped by both experience and consistency.

Her work now extends beyond the facility. She is a member of the South African Animal Keepers Association, a professional body established in December 2024 to connect and support animal care professionals across the country. Her introduction came through a welfare workshop at the Johannesburg Zoo in October 2025, where she met other keepers from different facilities, each bringing their own perspective but sharing the same purpose.

The value of this connection was immediate. It created space for knowledge exchange, learning, and collaboration. The association supports this through workshops, webinars, and ongoing engagement, strengthening welfare standards and building a network across the industry. Because this work is not done in isolation.

From the outside, working with animals is often seen as rewarding and fulfilling, and it is. But it also carries weight. There are difficult days and moments that require decisions to be made not from emotion, but from responsibility. Decisions that prioritise the wellbeing of the animal above all else. It is a reality that many do not see, yet it remains an essential part of the role.

Alongside this, there are moments that define why the work matters. For her, those moments come through rehabilitation, through the opportunity to give an animal a second chance. Over the years, she has been part of numerous releases, including Barn Owls and Spotted Eagle Owls, animals that have moved from care back into the wild.

Not every outcome is the same. Some animals remain in managed care, while others return to their natural environment. But each one matters. Each one represents impact, a life extended, a second chance given. That is where the meaning sits.

This understanding shapes her advice to those entering the field. Do not work alone. Wildlife care is built on shared knowledge, collaboration, and learning from those around you. No one person carries all the answers. Working as a team leads to better outcomes for the animals, for the people involved, and for the system as a whole.

Above all, keep perspective. This work is not about the individual. It is about the animal. In the end, that is what defines the role. Not recognition. Not ownership. Care.