Clinic Facilities

An old abattoir building on the African Bird of Prey Sanctuary site has been converted into a new dedicated raptor hospital. Improvement work on the building structure continues as funds come in.

The reception area has a glass viewing window that looks into the examination and treatment room. This allows the rescuer to potentially witness the initial examination of the injured bird without distracting the rehabilitator. The examination room contains an X-ray light box, stainless steel work table, surgical lights, drug cabinet, sink and cupboard unit.

The remainder of the building consists of four high-care rooms designed for the initial intensive care and treatment of the sick and injured birds. Two walk-in rooms are for large eagles or vultures, and the other two rooms are for the treatment of the small to medium sized birds of prey. Each contains two hospital boxes, a wash-up sink and heating facilities. Each room is managed as a bio-secure unit to ensure that disease transmission is kept to a minimum. At the rear of the clinic building is the food preparation and storage lockup facility and proposed X-ray area.

Once the raptor is stabilized and off daily medication, it is transferred out of this building into adjacent recovery enclosures. These secluded enclosures have been kindly sponsored by the Mead family of Hillcrest and have proved very effective in keeping stress levels of the recuperating raptors to a minimum.

The next step in the rehabilitation process would be to transfer the birds into one of two flight aviaries to increase their level of fitness and check that they are in fact flying well. A smaller 30m flight aviary is currently under construction and has been funded by the Old Mutual Staff fund. The final and most financially challenging (at a cost of R139 000) requirement is the construction of a  larger 75m flight tunnel that is necessary to successfully monitor and assess and rehabilitate the larger raptors, like eagles and vultures. Please go to "Proposed Projects" should you want to see the project plans.