Centre and Staff
Umoya Khulula is known for its high welfare and rehabilitation standards and exceptional staff.
About Our Centre and Staff
Established in 2018, Umoya Khulula Wildlife Centre is a wildlife rescue facility, known for its high standards of welfare and rehabilitation. The Centre supports numerous animals at any given time, many of which are victims of human-wildlife conflict, poaching and other illegal wildlife activities.
Our staff work to ensure that each animal is given exactly what they need to safely get back to being released back into the wild – where they belong.
Emma De Jager
Co-owner and Rehabilitation Manager
Emma De Jager came to South Africa from the UK at the age of 18. Once she saw the beauty of South Africa and its amazing animals, she was hooked. Emma has been working in wildlife rehabilitation for over 15 years, working with over 100 different species of mammals, birds, and reptiles. She has successfully released over 500 animals back into the wild.
Adriaan De Jager
Co-owner
Growing up in the bush gave Adriaan a deep love for nature. He is an integral part of Umoya Khulula’s animal relocation and game captures. Having seen the decline of so many wildlife populations in South Africa is what makes him strive to get these animals released back out into the wild.
Wynand De Jager
Co-owner
Wynand has worked in wildlife conservation since he was a child. He can frequently be found helping with game captures and problem wildlife relocations. He is an honorary ranger at Kruger National Park.
Katharine Lister
Manager
Katharine first came to South Africa in 2017 and absolutely fell in love with the country. She has been with Umoya Khulula since its opening. She has taken care of so many amazing animals and finds it very rewarding to get to see them take their first steps back out into the wild.
Lloyd Mashaba
Foreman
Lloyd has been a part of Umoya Khulula since its inception, He is an integral part in keeping the center operating smoothly. From supervising the quarantine area to everyday maintenance, there is nothing Lloyd won’t do for the animals.
Vounteer with Us
Umoya Khulula Wildlife Centre offers a once in a lifetime volunteer experience. Our paid-for volunteer programme is designed to give volunteers a genuine understanding of the rescue, rehabilitation, rewilding, and release processes, for a variety of wild animals.
What We Do
Umoya Khulula operates as a 24-hour wildlife rescue centre in South Africa.
Umoya Khulula rescues animals from cases that can be ascribed to human effect, whether it be due to ignorance, negligence, or cruelty.
The objective of wildlife rehabilitation is to provide licensed care to sick, injured, and orphaned wild animals so ultimately they can be returned to their normal wild environment. Animals in rehabilitation can spend anywhere from a few days to several months at Umoya Khulula before release. It all depends on the species, how old they were when they arrived, and the severity of their injuries.
Releases take place on sites that have been inspected and approved by Umoya Khulula animal care staff. Release sites are often large acreages, and all are chosen to meet species-specific needs for vegetation and terrain and that have year-round water and food sources.
RESCUE: 1st stage at our wildlife rescue centre
Umoya Khulula rescues animals from cases that can be ascribed to human effect, whether it be due to ignorance, negligence, or cruelty.
REHABILITATION: 2nd stage at our wildlife rescue centre
The objective of wildlife rehabilitation is to provide licensed care to sick, injured, and orphaned wild animals so ultimately they can be returned to their normal wild environment. Animals in rehabilitation can spend anywhere from a few days to several months at Umoya Khulula before release. It all depends on the species, how old they were when they arrived, and the severity of their injuries.
RELEASE: Final stage at our wildlife rescue centre
Releases take place on sites that have been inspected and approved by Umoya Khulula animal care staff. Release sites are often large acreages, and all are chosen to meet species-specific needs for vegetation and terrain and that have year-round water and food sources.
