Free to be Wild

Free to be Wild Primate & Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, Zimbabwe
(4)

Free to be Wild is a wildlife rescue, rehabilitation and release centre, situated on the outskirts of the city of Bulawayo in Zimbabwe. A safe haven, a new beginning but most importantly a chance, a chance at what every wild animal rightfully deserves. The centre specializes in primate rescue and rehabilitation, and is the first and only primate sanctuary of its kind in Zimbabwe, dealing with the Chacma Baboon, Vervet Monkey, Thick tailed Bushbaby and Lesser Bushbaby.

Conservation doesn’t start with rescue it starts with listening.Yesterday, our team was called to a nearby village afte...
18/04/2026


Conservation doesn’t start with rescue it starts with listening.
Yesterday, our team was called to a nearby village after livestock had been repeatedly killed.
For the families here, this is not just about animals.
Livestock represents food, income, and security. When losses happen, the impact is immediate and real.
Our role is not just to respond, but to understand.
Working alongside the community, we assessed tracks, patterns, and signs to help identify what species may be responsible.
Because not every situation is what it seems.
Not every conflict requires removal.
Many require understanding, prevention, and a shared approach to coexistence.
This is a part of conservation that often goes unseen.
Quiet, patient work that happens long before any rescue is needed.
Because protecting wildlife also means supporting the people who live alongside it.

14/04/2026


Some days in wildlife rescue are not about saving lives.
They are about giving dignity in the final moments.
Today, we responded to a call from Mr Mpofu at David Livingstone School in Ntabazinduna. He had learned about our work through our education program and because of that, he knew who to call.
By the time we reached her, this beautiful bird had suffered devastating injuries. Both legs were completely broken, open fractures that had been there for days. There was nothing left to fix.
But there was still something we could give. 💟
In her final moments, she was held. She was warm. She was safe. She did not die alone.
This is the reality of wildlife rescue. Not every story ends in recovery. Not every call ends in release.
Some days are heavy.
But today also reminded us why education matters.
Because someone cared enough to call. Because awareness turned into action and even when we cannot save a life, we can still change the way it ends.
We are deeply grateful to Mr Mpofu for doing the right thing, and for being part of a community that chooses compassion.
This work is not always easy.
But it is always important.

16/03/2026


Some moments remind you how far a journey has come.
This week Free To Be Wild was honoured with an award recognising excellence in wildlife rehabilitation and conservation education.
But recognition is never the beginning of the story.
It is the result of years of quiet work, emergency rescues, long nights caring for injured animals, patient rehabilitation, and a team committed to doing things properly.
Wildlife rescue is rarely simple.
Every animal arrives with a different story, a different challenge, and a different path to recovery.
This recognition belongs to every volunteer, supporter, and team member who has stood beside us in protecting wildlife.
Most of all, it belongs to the animals who remind us every day why this work matters.

Last night, Free To Be Wild was honoured with the induction into the National Hall of Fame, for Excellence in Wildlife R...
15/03/2026

Last night, Free To Be Wild was honoured with the induction into the National Hall of Fame, for Excellence in Wildlife Rehabilitation and Conservation.
•
It is difficult to put into words what moments like this mean.
•
When you are deep in the work, the long days, the rescues that don’t make it, the sleepless nights, the mud, the worry, and the endless problem solving, you rarely stop to look back at how far you have actually come.
•
But sometimes a moment arrives that makes you pause.
•
Last night was one of those moments.
•
This recognition is a reminder that every early morning, every difficult decision, every tear, every small victory, and every life saved has mattered. The work is not always visible and it is rarely easy, but moments like this remind us that the sweat, the heart, and the persistence behind it all does make a difference.
•
What I feel most strongly today is gratitude.
•
Free To Be Wild has never been the work of one person. It is the result of an incredible family of people who show up every day with compassion, courage, and commitment to wildlife.
•
To our team, our volunteers, our supporters, and everyone who has walked any part of this journey with us, this recognition belongs to you just as much as it does to me.
•
Without the Free To Be Wild family none of this would exist. You are the heart of everything we do, and I could not have asked for a better group of humans to stand beside on this journey.
•
Thank you for believing in this mission, for believing in wildlife, and for helping turn a vision into something real.
•
Tonight I feel incredibly humbled, deeply grateful, and reminded that together we are capable of far more than we sometimes realize.
•
Here’s to the journey so far, and to everything still ahead.
•
🖤 Baye xox

10/02/2026


Aya’s world has expanded.
Not through pressure.
Not through rushing release.
She’s meeting new species. Free roaming and has the freedom to make her own choices.
And when she needs it, she still gets her bottle three times a day.
Because freedom doesn’t always mean leaving.
Sometimes it means growing safely, with support, until the next step is hers to take. We are so proud of you Aya! 🦌 🤎

09/02/2026


Not every success is loud.
This little hedgehog was ready. 🦔
Release isn’t a moment we rush. It’s one we wait for. Back to the wild where you belong little one! 🤎

04/02/2026


Wild little soul unleashing the zoomies! 🦓 💨
When baby zebras feel safe in their environment, their bodies regulate and they express playful energy, a key sign of mental wellness in animals.
Playful behavior in baby animals indicates they’re feeling secure, curious, and thriving. It’s a beautiful reminder that safety and joy go hand in hand with healthy development.

This may look like a simple sheet of plastic but to us, it is protection, shelter, and care.Because of you, animals re...
31/01/2026


This may look like a simple sheet of plastic but to us, it is protection, shelter, and care.
Because of you, animals recovering here are shielded from rain, wind, and harsh sun. Because of you, temporary structures become safe spaces.
Because of you, we are able to respond quickly when animals arrive needing immediate care.
Every donation like this quietly supports the work that happens long after the rescue the monitoring, the patience, the responsibility to do things properly.
We want you to know that your generosity does not go unnoticed. It is used carefully and makes a real difference, every single day.
From all of us and from the animals who benefit from it thank you for standing with us and making this work possible. 🤍

27/01/2026


A few weeks ago, during intense rains and flooding, this zebra foal was born.
Not into perfect conditions. Not into calm weather but into a place that was already safe.
There was no rescue call. No emergency response.
No intervention needed.
Just a mother, a herd, and a protected space doing exactly what it was meant to do. 🖤 🤍
Conservation isn’t only about responding when things go wrong. It’s about making sure animals can survive when nature is at its hardest.
This foal is proof of that. Welcome to the world sweet darling 🦓!

25/01/2026


Baby Yoda made it through surgery 🤍
After being rescued following a black mamba attack, Baby Yoda required emergency surgery to remove her eye and save her life.
Now, the focus is on the quiet work pain management, warmth, monitoring, and rest. 💗
Recovery isn’t fast, and it isn’t dramatic.
It’s careful, patient, and guided by what she needs.
We’ll continue to share updates on her progress!
Thank you for caring about Baby Yoda’s journey and for supporting ethical wildlife care.

21/01/2026


Moments like this aren’t about cuteness.
This is Luca and what you’re seeing is responsibility, patience, and care given with one goal in mind: his future as a wild primate.
Primate care like this is never about companionship or comfort for humans. It’s about survival, rehabilitation, and meeting very specific developmental needs that can’t be skipped.
Primates are not pets.
And moments like this exist so they never become one.

19/01/2026


Everyone saw the moment the zebras were rescued.
Very few know what a rescue entails; before, during and after!
Behind the headlines and camera lenses is serious strategic planning, coordination, and care. In most cases long before and long after an animal is safe from immediate danger.
Rescue is not just about bravery in a crisis. It’s about responsibility once the noise fades.
It’s about leaving your ego at the door and teams working together through exhaustion. Authorities, communities, and volunteers aligning for one shared outcome, the animal’s welfare.
This rescue required quick thinking patience, precision, and trust between many moving parts.Every single role mattered. Every unseen effort counted.
We see those efforts. We honour them.
And we are deeply grateful to everyone who played a part in this zebra rescue, on the ground, behind the scenes, and in the moments no one filmed.
Wildlife rescue is not a moment.
It’s a process.
And these zebras are safe because of it. 🖤🦓

Address

242 Arnold Way Burnside Bulawayo
Bulawayo
000

Telephone

+263775545546

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Free to be Wild posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Organization

Send a message to Free to be Wild:

Shortcuts

Share

Category