Posted April 8, 2026 in All
UmPhafa has been very fortunate to have secretary birds on the Reserve for many years.
This bird is currently classed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species due to a rapid, widespread decline in numbers. The population is threatened by habitat destruction, agricultural expansion and human encroachment.
Therefore, when we found what we thought was an injured adult bird, we immediately caught it and travelled 120km to FreeMe Wildlife who run a professional wildlife rehabilitation centre.
The bird was immediately taken through to the observation area where it was thoroughly checked over and given electrolytes, fluids and vitamins. We thought it had a broken leg but on inspection it was exhausted, severely dehydrated and hadn’t eaten in days.
It was a sub-adult bird and we think it was pushed away from mum and dad so they could concentrate on having another chick. Left alone to fend for himself – he wasn’t doing very well!
FreeMe Wildlife will look after him for the next few months to help strengthen him and bring him back to tip-top condition before releasing him back on to UmPhafa Nature Reserve.
