How Wild Rescue Came About – The Founder and Future

The seeds for the establishment of Wild Rescue were sown when the founder, Gill Simpson, visited the Barrydale baboon sanctuary over six years ago. These visits made her realize not only the plight of the peninsula baboons, but of all baboons in the Western Cape. She held the founders, Peter and Nola Fraser, in awe, never thinking that she may one day become responsible for opening a wildlife sanctuary, and filling the gap left by the tragic closing of the Barrydale baboon sanctuary.

Gill attended a talk by Dr Jane Goodall at Kirstenbosch and it is through this talk that she heard about the Jane Goodall Institute’s Chimp Eden outside Nelspruit in Mpumalanga. In 2013 she became volunteer manager at Chimp Eden and was also involved in other aspects including education, getting sponsorships and developing the website. Dr Jane Goodall’s work continued to inspire her.

Returning to Cape Town she visited Karin Saks in the Crags, who had been forced to close her primate rehabilitation centre (Darwin Primate Group), and she realized just how needed a primate sanctuary was in the Western Cape. Someone needed to take action to establish a sanctuary as soon as possible – in her home province.

After talking to a number of conservancies and other individuals she discovered that there was a need for a sanctuary for all animals, not just primates.

After 6 long months of searching for an affordable and suitable property, she was shown Klipfontein, between Riversdale and Still Bay, which met the criteria of infrastructure, was a nature reserve, but was way over her available money. Finally she put in an offer, and it was accepted.

Gill believes that people need to make contact with “mother” earth again, and get to know the wonder of nature, its systems, and beings, and know that every individual being is part of nature. She is passionate about animals and the future of the planet. Compassion and respect is for all – the earth, the life that the earth sustains, and for every creature and person who are totally dependent on this planet for their life.

Wild Rescue will, with the support of individuals and other organizations, make a positive difference. Visitors to Wild Rescue will also have the chance to experience the wonders of biodiversity on a property as special as Klipfontein.

The wildlife sanctuary and nature reserve property has been bequeathed for use by Wild Rescue for future generations. Gill’s long-term vision is that properties around the sanctuary will open up and protect the flora and fauna so that the wildlife need not live in enclosures, and that many more projects such as Wild Rescue will start up in many areas – to nurture the wildlife and people of the South Africa.

Both a high school teacher and marketer, she enjoyed a successful career as a senior strategist and manager in advertising whilst always being involved with NPOs for wildlife and animal rights.

This passion about the rights of animals and compassion for the injured and orphaned inspired her to start Wild Rescue.

Christine’s interest in wildlife began when she was sent to South Africa to investigate, on behalf of the Special Investigation Service of the British Government (SIS), a rhino poaching syndicate dealing in the illegal trading of rhino horn and elephant tusk operating between England, South Africa and the Far East. She became well known in SA from TV and media coverage on the successful assignment.

In 1995, she became involved with the Bushmen of the Kalahari and facilitated with the SA Government in the Bushmen’s successful land claim in 1999.

Christine has the distinction of becoming the first female Commodore of False Bay Yacht Club, Simon’s Town and is a passionate racing sailor.

With a background in accounting and law, her skills in liaising with local communities and her leadership and love for the protection of wildlife will ensure that Wild Rescue has a strong and committed leadership to help achieve its aims.

Frank has worked most of his life in higher education – as an academic sociologist, in university administration and in programme management. A lifelong activist in the fields of human, animal and environmental rights, Frank has had a wide range of church, community and other organisational involvements. Most recently he co-founded the One Web of Life programme of the Southern African Faith Communities’ Environment Institute (SAFCEI), which focuses on the rights, welfare and protection of animals with a special concern for the plight of factory-farmed animals.

Audrey has always been committed to wildlife –  studying and working in conservation.  During her almost 20-year post as Ecologist at one of South Africa’s larger private game reserves, she established the “Back to the Wild Program” in recognition of the lack of capacity for safe release sites for compromised indigenous wildlife. She has facilitated numerous animal rescues, rehabilitation and releases of numerous indigenous wildlife species including pangolin, caracal and otters.  

Audrey has an MSc  in Zoology from the University of KwaZulu Natal and is currently completing her PhD,  whilst fulfilling her role as Executive Director of Humane Society International’s (HSI) Africa division (one of the largest animal welfare organisations in the United States, with branches worldwide). HSI-Africa’s flagship programme is the Elephant Immunocontraception Program, which Audrey and the Research team have pioneered and implemented in 25 reserves across South Africa with almost 800 female elephants on treatment.      

Audrey is a registered ecologist with the South African Council of Natural Applied Professionals and is a Specialist Member of the Elephant Specialist Advisory group.    

Audrey proactively works towards finding humane long-term solutions to the threats facing wildlife today.

Meryl spent many years in the advertising industry as a media planner and Head of Strategy before she moved into establishing and setting up NPO’s and PBO’s.

Meryl’s main objective is to help raise funds and awareness for the launching and development of the wildlife sanctuary, and support for the ideals that Wild Rescue represents.

•Wild Rescue is committed to compliance in all areas of good corporate governance as applicable in South Africa (including the King Commission for Corporate Governance 3).
• The Wildlife Rescue Sanctuary T/A Wild Rescue is registered as a Non Profit Company with the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC) and is therefore regulated by this organization – NPC Number:2015/183984/08
• It also complies with regulations of The Non-Profit Organisations Act 71 of 1997 and other applicable government regulations and relevant guidelines – NPO Number:157-873
• Tax exemption: Sections 10(1)(cN) and 18A(1)(a) confirmed for the organization
• Wild Rescue is audited annually by a registered auditor.