About Us
The Tsitsikamma Wolf Sanctuary is a women-owned, registered non-profit company, providing care and safe-haven for surrendered wolves, specifically the Grey Timber Wolf (Canus lupus), in the heart of the Tsitsikamma, Eastern Cape. Founded in 2001, the Sanctuary has provided home to over 500 wolves and wolf dogs, either rescued or surrendered from the exotic pet trade by individuals who are not able to provide the appropriate care for them or rescued from animal parks and zoos.
Wolves are not indigenous to South Africa; therefore, we feel strongly against breeding of wolves in a country where they have no life outside of captivity. At our Sanctuary, we try to give them a home as close to their natural environment as possible, with spacious enclosures, and no physical interaction from the public. A wolf is a wild animal and should remain a wild animal. Therefore, we do not allow any members of the public to enter any of the enclosures, respecting their territories.
With no financial support from the South African government, we rely heavily on private donations and sponsorships, to fund the Sanctuary. We also do educational guided tours of the Sanctuary, where we educate the public on global wolf conservation efforts, and the situation of wolves in South Africa.
Our team is working tirelessly to try and make a difference in conservation efforts of wolves in South Africa, as there are no regulations around continuous backyard breeding and trading of these misunderstood animals.
Aims & Objectives
- The Sanctuary is aimed to drive public awareness and education surrounding wolfdogs and wolves in South Africa. We welcome visitors to come and experience our wolves in person to learn about their unique nature, how we can reduce backyard breeding of these animals and the connected importance of wolf conservation. Our future goal is to become a resource for education against wolf and wolfdog breeding in South Africa.
- To provide a home and safe haven for unwanted and abused wolves and wolf dogs.
- To raise public awareness of the responsibility involved with breeding of and owning a wolf and wolf dog in South Africa.
- To provide a home for any other neglected and / or abused animal, besides wolves and wolf dogs.
- To protect and conserve the natural water sources on the Sanctuary, including the ground water and the Elands River.
- To rehabilitate the natural environment through practices such as reforestation and control of alien flora species.