Entries by Bronwyn Hayes

A bonding affair – Family bonds are not exclusive to humans

July 3, 2025 in , , /by

A bonding affair – Family bonds are not exclusive to humans Mother ˈmʌðə/ noun: A woman or female animal in relation to her child or offspring. Verb: To bring up (a child or offspring) with care and affection. Family bonds are not exclusive to humans. The animal kingdom has shown species with important family relationships, mainly a mother towards her offspring. It’s important to remember humans aren’t the only ones who take extraordinary steps to protect, nurture and raise their young. The animal kingdom is full of mothers who protect their babies, teach them to find food, and demonstrate behavior […]

TEARS Animal Rescue -Mandela Day 6’n’7 Project

July 2, 2025 in , , , /by

TEARS Animal Rescue -Mandela Day 6’n’7 Project Feeding Pets to keep Families Together. This Mandela Day, TEARS Animal Rescue is on a mission to raise funds to purchase 13 tonnes of pet food – that’s 6 tonnes for cats and 7 tonnes for dogs – to sustain the TEARS Feed Hungry Pets Programme for the next 6 months. In the low-income communities we serve, many families are facing severe financial hardship. They love their pets dearly, but when the cupboards are bare and the bills keep mounting, feeding their animals becomes an overwhelming challenge. For some, the heartbreaking reality is […]

Is Your Cat Slowing Down?

July 1, 2025 in , , , , , , , , /by

Is Your Cat Slowing Down? At the age of 12, your cat seems to be slowing down a bit, and that could be perfectly normal. After all, a cat of her age—equivalent to the age of 65 or so in a human—has been living a full life and deserves to take it easy on herself. Nevertheless, it’s a good idea to have the animal checked out by your veterinarian. It’s quite possible that her diminished activity is a consequence not of her advancing age but of a debilitating pain in one or more of her joints. Slowed-down, reclusive behavior is […]

Floods Devastate Khayelitsha Leaving Pets in Crisis

June 28, 2025 in , , , /by

Floods Devastate Khayelitsha Leaving Pets in Crisis Torrential rains have wreaked havoc across Cape Town, leaving parts of Khayelitsha township submerged under water. Homes are knee-deep in floodwater, and countless pets have been left stranded, shivering, and vulnerable to the elements. The Mdzananda Animal Clinic, based in Khayelitsha, has launched an emergency response to rescue and care for animals affected by the floods. The organisation’s field team has been working around the clock, wading through flooded streets to find and assist animals in distress. “We’ve found dogs chained in the rain, cats soaked and hiding under rubble, and families doing their […]

10 Facts about Dairy Cattle

June 30, 2025 in , , /by

10 Facts about Dairy Cattle Interesting and surprising facts about cows Milk is a dairy product that is in many food products, such as cheese and yoghurt. It comes from dairy cattle (dairy cows), which are specific breeds of cattle that have been bred and farmed for their ability to produce large amounts of milk for human consumption. For the female cows to produce milk, they need to be continuously impregnated and sadly, for many dairy cows around the globe, life is far from dignified; being used and abused in farming systems. These animals are intelligent and fascinating! How much […]

How is conservation preparing for a much hotter world? Experts share

June 29, 2025 in , , /by

How is conservation preparing for a much hotter world? Experts share Fifty years from now, in 2075, the world will be considerably hotter, perhaps as much as 3-5° Celsius (4.5 to 9° Fahrenheit) above the pre-industrial average. Experts say we need to focus on building greater resilience into ecosystems now to help species get through the next half century. We should be protecting large landscapes, including altitudinal gradients, according to experts. We should also be focusing on good management, community relations, rewilding and restoration. About 90 kilometers (56 miles) southeast of Cape Town lies the tranquilly-named town of Betty’s Bay […]

Shopping Guide for Animal-Friendly Fashion

June 28, 2025 in , , , , /by

Shopping Guide for Animal-Friendly Fashion From wool to down – have a heart for animals when shopping With new fashions coming in and out of style quicker than ever, it’s vitally important to ensure we are as ethical and sustainable with our shopping purchases as we can be. Animal textiles can be hidden in many clothing choices and accessories, and so we are making it as easy as possible to identify, avoid and find alternatives for wool, fur, down and leather. What do I have to consider when buying wool and woollen clothing? There are many ethical considerations to be […]

Rewilding Europe welcomes the Dauphiné Alps as its eleventh rewilding landscape

June 27, 2025 in , , /by

Rewilding Europe welcomes the Dauphiné Alps as its eleventh rewilding landscape Located in southeast France, the spectacular Dauphiné Alps are the latest addition to Rewilding Europe’s growing rewilding landscape portfolio. In collaboration with a broad coalition of local partners, rewilding efforts will build on the remarkable recovery of wild nature here, further enhancing biodiversity and delivering wide-ranging benefits for people and nature.  Following three years of dialogue and co-creation, Rewilding Europe is thrilled to announce the Dauphiné Alps in southeast France as its eleventh rewilding landscape. This preparation phase brought together multiple stakeholders and partners to discuss the opportunity and need to […]

NSPCA Finds Shocking Cruelty at Notorious Predator Facility

June 26, 2025 in , , , , , , /by

NSPCA Finds Shocking Cruelty at Notorious Predator Facility The National Council of SPCAs (NSPCA) conducted a pro-active follow-up inspection at a large-scale tiger breeding facility in Klerksdorp, North West, on Monday, 24 January 2025. What our inspectors uncovered was a scene of unimaginable suffering and neglect, further exposing the grim reality behind South Africa’s commercial captive predator industry. The follow-up inspection was prompted by a previous incident at the facility, where a tiger – one of at the time 81 kept at the site – was mauled by another tiger three weeks ago, sustaining injuries to its torso, throat, and […]

10 Amazing Facts About Ducks

June 25, 2025 in , , /by

10 Amazing Facts About Ducks Did you know that all ducks have highly waterproof feathers? Ducks are a group of species of water birds – relatively small in size and with shorter necks than their close cousins of swans and geese. Along with their longer necked cousins, they make up the biological family of Anatidae. Humans have had a long relationship with members of this family by being economically and culturally important to us. Ducks, in particular, have been domesticated to be exploited for their feathers, eggs and meat. All ducks have highly waterproof feathers. A duck’s feathers are so […]