Meet the Team!

B iologist Ben Hoffman has been actively working with birds of prey both in South Africa and Zimbabwe for over 25 years. As an active falconer he has watched and hunted a wide variety of raptors. Ben was with the Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Management before doing his dangerous drugs license and moving into specialized wildlife capture and international translocations. He now specializes in raptor rehabilitation and runs RAPTOR RESCUE, handling over 100 rehabilitation cases annually. He also heads up the breeding and release projects at the Sanctuary and has to date bred 15 species of birds of prey, including two Red Data Book species.

 

 

 

C EO, Shannon Hoffman has been working fulltime with birds of prey for the last eight years, both in South Africa and abroad and oversees the sections of the facility that are open to the public. Shannon began her 'hands on' raptor work in Arabia where she lived, and worked, in the desert with falcons, horses and camels. On returning to South Africa it was apparent to her that she and fellow South Africans, take the amazing African raptor diversity for granted and know very little about them. She initiated  a small educational facility in Botha's Hill, called 'On Air' which she ran for for three years before combining forces with husband Ben to open the African Bird of Prey Sanctuary.

 

 

Global gypsy,  Lindy Thompson has recently settled in KwaZulu-Natal and joined the team in June 2010 as the Snactuary's Assistant Raptor Manager. She has been travelling the world (from India to Indonesia, to England and Ireland, and even Australia) working in a wide variety of conservation projects. Lyndy has a MSc in Wildlife Management and Conservation and did her thesis on the breeding biology of eagle owls in the Sierra Norte, Spain. She sees to the safe care of the captive birds behind the scenes  and during the daily flying demonstrations introduces others to the amazing world of the aerial-predators. 

 

 

 

B  elinda Phetha is a "Jill of all trades " at the   Sanctuary. She  formally tends to the daily maintenance and care of all the owls living in "Hoot Hollow." Currently Belinda takes her life into her hands when she enters the Grass Owl enclosure as Dube is proudly sitting on five eggs and Ganga gets really protective of his new family.

Belinda also does translation work for Zulu children visiting the Sanctuary and is working on writing a story about owls for children to help dispel the fear that many people have for owls. She also helps out in Raptor Rescue's hospital and in Kestrel Cafe when it gets busy. One thing is for sure though, whatever Belinda is doing she is always wearing a big smile! 

 

 

 

  

Nathi Mathonsi is a groundsman at the Sanctuary and joined the team in November 2009. Nathi cares for the big raptors at the Sanctuary, so the eagles in  Eagle Alley and the Vultures are his charges. Nathi is also involved with raptor food production and of course the upkeep of the grounds. In summer time the grass grows as fast as you can cut it, but Nathi is a hard worker, just quietly getting the job done. 

 

 

 

 

 

Silindelo Mathonsi is a local lady and is the front of house and café assistant helping to ensure that your all-round visit to the Sanctuary is complete. Sli has worked at the Sanctuary since November 2008 and is Nathi's sister.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Raptor Rescue Release committee, headed up by Ben Hoffman:

1Tanya van der Vyver who has 11 years experience in the rehabilitation of wildlife which included being head of clinic and birds of prey for CROW (Centre for Rehabilitation of Wildlife) for 5 years. She has also completed her National Diploma in Animal Health.

2 To ensure an ethically transparent release process, all released raptors are ringed by ornathologist Mark Brown and his team from the University of KwaZulu-Natal, so that the birds of prey can be identified post release. Mark is based at the School of Biological and Conservation Sciences and often brings undergraduate Zoology students to the Sanctuary to give them opportunity to come into contact with, and collect data from raptors.

3 All veterinary work and surgery for Raptor Rescue is performed by Dr Oliver Tatham of the Hilton Veterinary Surgery. Dr Tatham has been working directly with Ben Hoffman for five years and active in wildlife rehabilitation for over 11 years. Dr Tatham was the 2006 recipient of the Bird of Prey working group’s raptor conservationist of the year award. He is considered the leading raptor veterinarian in the country and maintains close communication with specialists globally. Oliver Tatham is also on the board of trustees of the African Raptor Trust.

4 Brent Coverdale is the KZN Ezemvelo/Wildlife District Conservation Officer covering the area in which the African Bird of Prey Sanctuary is situated. He handles the permits and the legalities surrounding these protected species.

V olunteers: We are grateful to a couple of stelwarts who are dedicated to the raptors and support the Sanctuary in a multitude of ways -including hard physical labour!