Some memories are captured in photographs. Others come home with you in a slightly more permanent way. For Australian volunteers Jamie, Hayley and Jess, and Cango Academy student Zenny, their time together in the Klein Karoo was marked with an experience they will quite literally carry with them forever.
Buckets, Mud and a Marabou Stork

Spring is in the air, and that means it’s time for a little extra sparkle around the ranch! Recently, our Wild Animal Volunteers rolled up their sleeves to give the enclosure of Malcolm, our Marabou Stork, and our two Cape Vultures a much-needed spring clean.
It’s no easy task - scrubbing, hauling, and lifting buckets of water under the watchful eyes of three very large and impressive birds. But our volunteers took it all in stride, managing to balance hard work with plenty of laughs along the way. Between joking about mud fights and tackling stubborn patches of dirt, they turned the grueling (albeit smelly) chore into a memorable team effort.

For our volunteers, moments like these go beyond cleaning. They’re about working together, building bonds, and creating a safe, comfortable environment for the animals they dedicate their time to. For Malcolm and the vultures, it means a fresh, healthy space to enjoy.
It’s a reminder that behind every clean enclosure and happy animal is a team of dedicated people willing to put in the effort - and still find a way to smile while doing it.
Further Reading
Cango Wildlife CEO Douglas Eriksen recently took Project ZOA to a new audience, delivering the keynote address at the 18th NRF-SAEON Graduate Student Network Indibano in Hazyview, Mpumalanga, on 16 September 2026. The South African Environmental Observation Network (SAEON), a research platform of the National Research Foundation, brings together scientists working across South Africa’s terrestrial, marine, freshwater and atmospheric environments. Its Graduate Student Network connects Master’s and PhD researchers from across the...
The final day of Arbor Month brought with it a fitting moment of growth at the newly opened Africa Skills Cango Academy, as representatives from the Garden Route District Municipality joined the Cango team for the handover and planting of indigenous trees. The Garden Route District Municipality donated 35 indigenous plants, comprising 20 Karee trees and 15 Spekboom, to be planted at the Academy. The initiative formed part of Arbor Month and...














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