Target UPDATE:
ONLY $275 left to raise, after receiving an additional $560 through local donations!
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For those that know me, i'm (a little bit) infatuated with animals, particularly wildlife, and their conservation. This year, I began working for an AMAZING non-profit organisation who conserves wildlife in Zimbabwe, and because of this...
I'm DONATING MY 29th BIRTHDAY and raising $$$ for the care and rehabilitation of this cute little orphaned baby bushbuck, in our care here at the Victoria Falls Wildlife Trust.
Instead of gifts, I would love for you all to:
PLEASE donate to HELP US FEED this little bushbuck baby so we can release it back into the wild!
Donate using Credit card here or for Zim friends, send $ with Ecocash or local transfer!
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The Story...
This tiny thing came to us (Victoria Falls Wildlife Trust) last month rescued in a town called Dete, next to Hwange National Park in the NW corner of Zimbabwe. She was just 3 weeks old when she ran up to some safari operators for safety when baboons started chasing her, her mother was nowhere to be found.
Sadly, we think the mother had been trapped in a wire snare and KILLED BY POACHERS.
Dete town is renowned for poaching being so close to a wildlife area. Sadly, here in Zimbabwe, poachers will often set wire snares in areas where wildlife walk, with the aim to trap them for meat. It is extremely common, and can be a horrifically slow and painful death for the animal.
The bushbuck's little calf was not going to survive on her own as she was reliant on mum's milk and safety, and so they took her in and a day later, drove her up to us here, in Victoria Falls where we have a registered Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Facility.
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The Need...
She is now 8 weeks old, healthy happy and growing FAST, and will be in our care for another 4 months until she is old enough to be released into the wild. But SHE NEEDS YOUR HELP! Currently she is being fed every 4 hours on a high-fat, high-protein diet of fresh milk, fresh cream, egg yolk and vitamins, and these ingredients don't come cheap here in Vic Falls!
The current COST PER WEEK to feed her = USD $20.36
( This includes fresh (not UHT) milk, cream, eggs, vitamins, vegetables and 2L fuel to get to the shops and back once, 10km away) Extra costs may include drugs and equipment in case she gets sick (eg antibiotics)
This cost will increase as she grows and drinks more, and moves onto solid food, and over the next 4 months will cost us approximately USD $500!
We are also desperate for a FRIDGE to store all this food inside the rehab facility!
A fridge will cost us USD $800. So I am (ambitiously) hoping to raise the funds for this too!
As a non-profit organisation, VFWT are desperate for your help to support these costs!
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How you can help...
For the 2 weeks surrounding my upcoming 29th birthday on the 10th of October, I am asking all my friends and family from across the world to CELEBRATE WITH ME our wonderful yet threated wildlife here in Africa and to PLEASE donate to HELP US care for this little bushbuck baby until she is ready to be released back into the bush where she belongs...
I worked it out:
If every one of my facebook friends donates, that's only $1.66 each!! Every $ counts!
PLUS The friend with the BIGGEST TOTAL DONATION will be awarded by VFWT with the honour of:
1. ADOPTING the bushbuck orphan for the duration of her time here with us, and
2. NAMING her with a traditional African name of their choice. (A selection of names will be suggested by our animal handlers and you will get to choose your favourite!)
VFWT will send the winner weekly photo and video updates on her progress as she grows and matures, and develops her character, and the happy moment when she is released back into the wild! As she will be soft-released right here into the property, and over a long period of time, she may even pay us a visit now and again!
Please help me celebrate my first birthday living back in Africa...
... by GIVING GENEROUSLY to a great cause, and let's get this little thing healthy and happy back out there where it belongs!
Also, if you want to know more about what VFWT do to conserve wildlife, check out our BRAND NEW website!
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Thank you all so much for the support! - Melissa xox
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Zim DONATION options:
For some silly reason, Crowdrise doesn't recognize Zimbabwe as a country (eye roll!) so if you are based in Zimbabwe you can donate using 2 external options and I will add you up here on the page as a donor!
** Please include "Bushbuck" in your description, and send me a FB message to let me know! :)
