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African Dawn started as a family interest, driven by the owner's love of birds being a major influence throughout his life. He started taking in orphaned and injured birds and animals, but as more and more came in, the sanctuary grew and in 1997 they decided to open its doors to the public in order to subsidize the growing cost of feeding and caring for these birds and animals. Since then, the sanctuary has continued to grow and flourish, and in 2003 they started a very successful volunteer program to help look after the ever-growing number of residents. Today they host the largest aviary in the Eastern Cape as well as other beautiful spacious aviaries and enclosures. They run a successful rehabilitation unit, and in January 2015 they finished building their new rehab section, which will see numerous birds and animals helped and be released where possible. In 2016 over 300 birds and animals were admitted into African Dawn. They also host Endangered Animals, which include the Blue Duiker and Blue and Crowned Cranes, as well as Cheetahs and Servals. The animals at the sanctuary are not bred, however, are ambassador animals for their species used to help educate people about the difficulties these endangered animals face. Their aims and objectives are focussed on rescuing and treating all injured or orphaned wildlife brought into the sanctuary, to rehabilitate the animals to their optimal levels of functioning. To provide a safe and suitable environment for birds and animals who do not have the ability to survive re-introduction into their natural habitats, to play an active role in cultivating an awareness amongst the public to try and ensure a future for the conservation of wildlife, and, to work in close association with nature conservation and other wildlife rescue centres.
The African Bird of Prey Sanctuary is a working facility dedicated to the conservation of indigenous raptors and is base to ongoing research, breeding and rehabilitation projects for birds of prey. The majority of these projects run ‘behind the scenes’ to ensure that the integrity of the wild birds is not compromised and that a high release success rate is achieved. The sanctuary is also, however, home to a wide selection of captive-bred or ‘non-releasable rehabilitation’ birds of prey. These raptors can be viewed in their ‘micro-environment’ enclosures by anyone who wishes to visit and learn about South Africa’s magnificent aerial predators. The African Bird of Prey Sanctuary opened quietly in June 2006, but was an amalgamation or a variety of projects that have been ongoing in KZN for the previous five years. Headed up by Shannon Hoffman, the sanctuary cares for over 180 different birds of prey of 50 different species. Partnering this project is the Mayibuye community, who owns the land on which the facility is built and shares a percentage of all gate takings. We Educate in order to Conserve. Education about birds of prey, and the threats that they face, is an important part of raptor conservation. No amount of research can be effective unless the results of the projects are shared with the greater public. Neither can conservation methods be successfully implemented unless people know and understand what both the raptors and related conservation projects are all about. One of the primary roles of the African Bird of Prey Sanctuary is to introduce raptors, in all their magnificence, to the general public. To facilitate this, a specially trained group of raptors are flown in daily flight displays. These demonstrations allow the raptors themselves to become both teachers and ambassadors for their wild counterparts, so that members of the public can experience these normally rare and elusive birds first hand. It is hoped that people, both young and old, and from all walks of life come away with an appreciation of South Africa’s fantastic diversity of raptor after seeing the birds first-hand.
The American Association of Avian Pathologists is an international association whose mission is to promote scientific knowledge to enhance the health, well–being, and productivity of poultry to provide safe and abundant food for the world. Established in 1957, it is open to anyone who is engaged in some phase of avian diseases. It was launched as a national organization for veterinary practitioners, diagnosticians, researchers, and students interested in poultry health and medicine. With annual meetings involving both national and international members, interested individuals come together to discuss poultry diseases and further advance the field of poultry medicine. In 2007, celebrating 50 years, AAAP published AAAP- The First 50 Years 1957-2007, prepared by the AAAP History Committee and edited by John Dunn. Each year AAAP conducts a scientific program and symposium where the latest findings and issues regarding diseases in poultry are shared and discussed. AAAP also publishes Avian Diseases, a quarterly, international journal for original basic or clinical research from various disciplines including microbiology, immunology and pathology. In addition, AAAP publishes many educational materials on avian health, including Diseases of Poultry and the Avian Disease Manual. AAAP committees and interest groups offer members a forum for discussion and action on specific poultry topics and issues. Through the AAAP Foundation, scholarships and awards are given each year to support those who are striving for careers in poultry medicine and acknowledge outstanding achievement in the area of poultry medicine. AAAP facilitates member collaboration to advance science-based knowledge, expertise, and education on poultry health, welfare, and food safety. The American Association of Avian Pathologists Foundation, founded in 1988, is the charitable arm of the AAAP. It is dedicated to the encouragement and development of talented individuals who are interested in careers in poultry health and/or food safety. It provides scholarship and award opportunities for undergraduate students, veterinary students, non-veterinary students, and post graduate students. The Mission of The AAAP Foundation is to encourage excellence and enables opportunity for those dedicated to nourishing the world with a sustainable abundance of healthy poultry. Through the AAAP Foundation and its partners, 40+ scholarships are offered each year. The foundation supports those pursuing a career in poultry medicine and recognizes excellence and achievement in the field of poultry medicine through member awards. Scholarship award amounts range from $500 to $5,000.
Born and raised in Cape Town, South Africa, I am a 22 year old who could be described as ambitious, hardworking, and a perfectionist. I enjoy being challenged with new tasks, as I believe discomfort allows one to grow and learn. I enjoy teamwork, but I am also capable of working on my own. I believe that communication is an important aspect of any relationship, especially professional ones, as it doesn’t leave any room for errors or misunderstandings. Therefore, I pride myself on being a skilled communicator. I am organised, goal-driven, and I find it very hard to set a task down once I have started. I may not have the most extroverted personality, but I do enjoy socialising with others in any setting. I recently graduated with a BA in English and Communication Science. While completing my degree, I worked as an editorial intern at Highbury Media, where I gained first hand experience in editing, publishing, and social media management. I was also able to sharpen my writing skills, which came in handy as I went on to work as a freelance writer for ClubX Magazine for over a year. Even though I do not have years of experience behind me, I am, however, eager to learn. And a fresh mind is always a benefit. When it comes to my free time, I enjoy reading, writing, and painting. I am also currently learning Italian and intend on tackling many other foreign languages.
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