Durban
A band of mongooses is grabbing the attention of visitors to the Flag Animal Farm in Ballito.
In January, Squeaker the mongoose was found abandoned in the Ballito area by a visitor and taken to the farm. A month later, 10 mongoose babies were taken to the farm by a construction company that might have disturbed their habitat in the North Coast town.
Farm manager, Genevieve Chisholm, said Squeaker was dehydrated and weak when she arrived.
“The 10 babies have been the most challenging rescue in my 13 years on the farm. I have to feed them every two hours, round the clock. We have dug deep to give these little babies a chance at life. When their eyes opened, I was one proud mom.
“To see them now as little individuals with their own personalities brings me so much joy to know that they are now on their way to freedom,” Chisholm said.
Squeaker can now break an egg on her own and is ready to be released. However, the farm management is waiting for the babies to grow further to give them the best chance of survival in the wild.
Visitors to the farm are able to view them and cuddle them, but only for a few more weeks.
“Flag Animal Farm doesn’t encourage people to remove wildlife from their natural environment but when the need comes for help, we are always there,” Chisholm said.