Continuous learning and professional development play an important role in maintaining high standards of animal care and welfare. From 7 to 10 September 2026, I had the privilege of attending a four-day Animal Husbandry Workshop hosted at Lory Park Animal and Owl Sanctuary and presented by Wild Welfare UK. The workshop was an incredibly valuable experience, offering the opportunity to expand my knowledge, exchange ideas with fellow animal care professionals and gain...
For Every Kind Of Mother

Mother’s Day is often marked with flowers, gifts, and quiet moments of appreciation. This year at Cango Wildlife, it becomes something more. A two day celebration, on 09 and 10 May, dedicated not only to human mothers, but to every form of motherhood we are privileged to witness.
Because care is not limited to one species. Across the facility, motherhood takes many shapes. It is seen in the quiet watchfulness of a Cheetah, always alert to the world around her. It is in the gentle presence of a Cape Porcupine, steady and protective. It is in the soft guidance of a Duck leading her ducklings, and the proud, attentive nature of a Peacock tending to her young. Each bond is instinctive. Each connection is formed without instruction, without hesitation.

It is constant. It is powerful. It is shared. Motherhood, at its core, is an act of care. A commitment to nurture, protect, and guide. Whether expressed through human connection or through the rhythms of the natural world, it carries the same purpose.
“To describe my mother would be to write about a hurricane in its perfect power.”
Maya Angelou

There is strength in that role. Strength that is often quiet, often unseen, but always present. At Cango Wildlife, we see it daily. In the way animals respond to one another. In the bonds that form, the behaviours that protect, and the trust that develops over time. It is a reminder that motherhood is not defined by words, but by actions.
This Mother’s Day, we invite you to celebrate that in all its forms.

Spend time together. Walk the pathways, share moments, and experience the connections that exist between people and wildlife. Capture those memories with a professional photoshoot, take a moment to pause, and recognise the role that mothers play in shaping the world around us.
“A mother is not a person to lean on, but a person to make leaning unnecessary.”
Dorothy Canfield Fisher
It is a day for appreciation. For reflection. For connection.

And while the focus often falls on a single moment, the truth is that motherhood is ongoing. It is found in everyday actions, in small gestures, and in the unwavering presence that defines it.
Over these two days, we celebrate all of it.
Every mother. Every bond. Every life shaped by care.

Further Reading
The Cango Wildlife team traded their usual working environment for muddy trails and obstacles at the 2026 Dust 4 Glory Challenge. On 17 October 2026, Wilgewandel Holiday Farm in Oudtshoorn came alive with energy, determination and plenty of muddy smiles as participants gathered for the annual Klein Karoo Dust 4 Glory Obstacle Challenge.
As Cango Wildlife celebrates 40 years of conservation in 2026, we continue to introduce new ways for visitors, volunteers and interns to experience and connect with our facility. October marked two exciting milestones with the official launch of BOA Pods at Cango Wildlife and our new Circle Volunteer & Intern Community Hub.










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