Humane World for Animals South Africa

WATCH ☺️ What happens when an ant bites a pangolin's tongue? For an animal with no teeth, it's ironic that pangolins eat insects that can bite 🐜. Pangolins have adaptations that prevent ants from causing too much damage, but occasionally one will find a tender spot. This young female Temminck’s pangolin is feeding on pugnacious ants and their eggs. When an ant bites her tongue, she reacts. The easiest way to remove the biter is by extending her tongue fully and pulling it back in to wipe the ant off on the edge of the tongue’s sheath. @hsiafrica is proud to support the @AfricanPangolin in helping to protect pangolin populations from being eaten away by the illegal trade. #pangolin

🦒🦒 Breaking news for giraffes! The @USFWS has proposed listing four giraffe species under the Endangered Species Act! With fewer than 69,000 mature individuals left in the wild, giraffe populations have plummeted nearly 40% since the 1980s 💔. This is due to habitat loss, civil unrest, poaching, human-driven changes and the trade in bone carvings, skins, and trophies. This proposal brings hope, expectantly giving giraffes the protection they deserve. @HSIAfrica welcomes this decision by the @USFWS to bring in additional protections for giraffes. South Africa is a prime destination for hunters seeking giraffe trophies with approximately 174 giraffes killed each year by US citizens, however in 2019 South Africa took out a reservation against the giraffe being listed on Appendix II of CITES. This effectively countered international attempts to protect the species. Listing giraffes under the ESA will provide the long overdue protections that South Africa is failing to provide. 🙏 We urge decision-makers to carefully consider the conservation needs of giraffes to ensure these long-necked wonders are protected for future generations.

#DYK Being specialist ant feeders, pangolins consume numerous species of ant and termite 🐜🪲. They're equipped with incredibly strong forearms and large claws to dig through hard outer layers of ant and termite mounds to get to the inhabitants. But what happens when the ant nest is in a branch that has no stable base to hold it in place❓ This young Temminck's pangolin found the perfect way to stabilise the source of his food, by wrapping his strong tail around the branch and bracing it with his hind legs, he then has easy access to the branch’s inhabitants. @HSIAfrica is proud to support the @AfricanPangolin in helping to protect pangolins. Video: Manyoni Private Game Reserve #pangolin #wildlife

🌱 @HSIAfrica launched its #GreenMondaySA initiative in two rural schools in Genadendal! Hundreds of students are now enjoying nutrient-packed, plant-based meals made with ingredients grown in their own school gardens! 🌽 The program not only aims to enhance the nutritional quality of school meals but also reduces animal-based products by 20%. Consuming more plant-based meals can help to improve our health, and also reduce the environmental impact of animal agriculture, where welfare issues often arise as well 🌍🐷. Eating ‘green’ may also improve food security in under-resourced communities. As part of the program, students received ‘Eating Green at School is Cool booklets’ to learn more about the benefits of plant-based eating. 💚🌱 #EatGreen #GreenMondaySA

Sterilizing your dog is more than just preventing conception — it’s a decision that contributes to their long-term health and well-being. Spaying and neutering can help to reduce certain health risks, and even improve your dog’s behavior. 🐾❤️ Unfortunately, there are many misconceptions surrounding sterilization. @HSIAfrica is busting 6 myths around the sterilization of your dog! See: instagram.com/p/DClnB4yC3w3/…

We welcome @CrueltyFreeEU's #TheRATlist, suggesting 10 common animal tests that could be replaced with humane, non-animal methods 🚫💉🐁 Animal testing is still legal in South Africa, causing the animals unnecessary pain, suffering & almost always death💔. We oppose the unnecessary use of animals in fields like cosmetics testing & entertainment. We believe that today’s technology has the potential to substantially replace animals in research & education, but it hasn’t been fully explored. Sadly, animal testing is still the default in medical & biomedical contexts, even as rapidly evolving technologies offer viable and more ethical alternatives. ⚠️ A lot of work is needed, but YOU can make a difference by choosing to purchase products that are not tested on animals! More info: crueltyfreeinternational.org… #BeCrueltyFree

🐘 🌍 Our world-renowned #ElephantImmunocontraception Program is only possible thanks to the incredible support of our partners! Together we've vaccinated nearly 1,700 female elephants across 50 reserves in South Africa as a humane and proactive approach to elephant population control. @pneudart has been instrumental in supporting our work, generously sponsoring the specialized 389 cartridge-fired dart gun used to administer the vaccine in Mark & Inject darts. Each dart delivers the non-hormonal, non-steroidal pZP vaccine and includes a marking spray on the elephant’s back at the dart site for a quick visual reference of treated individuals 💜. Selected female elephants are darted swiftly and painlessly from a helicopter 🚁. The dart is gently shot in the elephant's rear and falls out almost immediately, allowing us to treat the elephants without anesthesia or immobilization. 🙏 Teamwork really makes the dream work and we thank all those that play a pivotal role in this humane, nature-based population control program!

✨🧡 Special sighting of a caracal at @CapePointSA Nature Reserve - in the wild where they belong! Caracals are very important for managing ecological balance. They are keystone species: animals whose disappearance can cause the increase or decline of others. 🌍🐾 Their greatest threats are urbanization, habitat loss, hunting, human-wildlife conflict, road accidents, and loss of prey. You Can Help ‼ - Be mindful of wildlife in your surroundings. - Keep a respectful distance - never approach or interact with wildlife. - Report sightings, especially roadkill, of caracals to @urbancaracal. 📷 Spotted by @hsiafrica's very own Matthew Schurch. #wildliveconservation

Beautiful Bruno was brought to one of our #HealthyPetsHealthierCommunity primary health clinics in Cape Agulhas, suffering from a severe tick infestation. He received immediate tick treatment and was given medication to continue at home. After several months of care, he’s now completely tick-free, healthy, and full of joy 🐶🥰! @HSIAfrica's #HealthyPetsHealthierCommunity program offers sponsored primary veterinary care to companion animals in the Cape Agulhas Municipality. Mass sterilization events are also hosted to help mitigate overpopulation and improve overall welfare. Since the launch in 2022, over 2000 animals have been treated! 🙌.

Wonderful news👏🦁 @environmentza's Minister Dion George reaffirmed his commitment to phase out & ultimately ban the commercial captive lion breeding industry in South Africa! @hsiafrica welcomes & fully supports the Minster, who stated, “I have taken a clear and decisive stance against captive lion breeding. The process initiated by my predecessor [Minister Barbara Creecy] will continue.” Currently, there are approx. 7,800 lions kept in over 342 captive facilities across South Africa, where they are bred for cruel, profit-driven activities like cub petting, voluntourism, entertainment, “canned” or captive trophy hunting, & the lion bone trade 💔. We are looking forward to engaging with the DFFE on this matter 🙏. We hope the Minister will further this commitment to apply to ALL big cats in South Africa to avoid copycat industries from developing. #lions #captivelionbreeding #bancaptivelionbreeding