The fires that killed nine people and displaced thousands has done the same to countless animals. Tenikwa Wildlife Awareness and Rehabilitation Centre’s Mandy Freeman says there are species of antelope, tortoise, and butterfly that are special to the area that have been affected.

“In our area here, on the Garden Route, we particularly have lots of different kinds of wildlife and very specific little ecosystems. So, we have all this wildlife and a lot of them just could not flee the fire because it was so big, so fast, and so hot. It just raced through areas and they just could not escape,” explains Freeman.

“The ones that could escape are now completely without their habitat. So, it really has had a serious impact on them and will for years to come,” continues Freeman.

OFM News/Nomaqhawe Mtebele