With many different conservatories and wildlife sanctuaries across South Africa, the South African Animal Sanctuary Alliance serves to improve the lives of cages primates, birds and other wildlife. Their wildlife sanctuaries specialise in creating wildlife encounters that families and children can enjoy.
The South African Animal Sanctuary Alliance (SAASA) aims to promote a greater understanding of primates, birds, apex cats and wild animals in general as well as educate people on the threats and challenges they face on a regular basis.
Visit some of SAASA’s fun wildlife sanctuaries
SAASA has four different wildlife sanctuaries across the country that you can visit. The Birds of Eden, Monkeyland and Jukani wildlife sanctuaries are situated in Plettenberg Bay, and another Monkeyland has recently opened in KwaZulu-Natal.
Their sanctuaries have done such great work promoting conservation and responsible wildlife tourism, that they have won multiple awards such as the Lilizela Service Excellence Awards – Best Visitor Experience ‘Wildlife Encounters’; Skål International Sustainable Tourism Award – Best Major Attraction, ‘Best Animal Welfare Initiative’ and overall winner of the World Responsible Tourism Awards.
The team at SAASA help improve the lives of primates, birds and wildlife by relocating the captive wild animals to sanctuaries that are spacious and provide the animals with the freedom they deserve. They are a proud and active campaigner of the #HandsOffOurWildlife initiative.
“Many places offer the opportunity for wildlife selfies and wildlife interaction. Wild animals don’t like noisy, chaotic environments, and they most definitely don’t like to be harassed and passed on from tourist to tourist. At The South African Animal Sanctuary Alliance (SAASA) we chose not to be part of this ugly picture.
We don’t condone wildlife interaction at any of our sanctuaries, and we actively fight for #animalrightsintourism by educating the visitors to our sanctuaries Monkeyland, Birds of Eden and the Jukani Wildlife Sanctuary about the plight of animals, the harmful pet-play-and-pay practices they should stay clear of and we encourage our patrons to support the #HandsOffOurWildlife initiative – together we CAN make a difference,” says Lara Mostert, Marketing Manager at Monkeyland
SAASA cares for a variety of wildlife populations in an environment as close to the wild as possible. One of their main areas of focus is to educate the public and the younger generation about the adverse effects of keeping wild animals as pets in terms of their physical and psychological health.
“It is vital to educate the youth and teach them to respect animals and treat them with kindness. It is very difficult to change the behaviour and mindset of the older generation. If we don’t shape the minds of the younger generation now, many more species will become extinct before they become adults,” adds Mostert.
While those who visit one of SAASA’s sanctuaries can get up close and personal with wildlife and learn more about them and their struggles in captivity, the sanctuaries are strictly ‘no-touch’ as they want the animals to feel safe and free from harassment in their own environments.
To find out more about SAASA their mission, and their sanctuaries, give them a call on 044 534 8906/082 979 5683 or email info@saasa.org.za. Visit their website at www.saasa.org.za.
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