A good hockey player plays where the puck is. A great hockey player plays where the puck is going to be. -Wayne Gretzky If you visited us in the past weeks you would have noticed that we are shifting a few things around again. For Esther van der Westhuizen, owner of Butterfly World Animal Sanctuary, staying ahead of the pack (or puck) is as normal as it is for a monkey to climb a tree or for a chameleon to change its...
I went to a Coenie de Villiers show once and somewhere along the evening, he shared with us how he frequently gets asked by young musicians for advice on how to build a successful career in the music industry. Coenie’s answer: “Go study business, because your passion and talent can only take you so far.” I have never forgotten that and now that I am working at a Zoo (which is actually a sanctuary for unwanted pets) the question of heart...
Somehow spiders are in the spot light lately and the news is unanimous…spiders are the new COOL!! They are beautiful, they are essential and they are fascinating! You just need to get to know them. I’ve put together this short blog just as an introduction to the introduction to the endless variety in spider-world. The hope is, that next time you come face to face with little 8-eyes, you might stop to wonder what clever secrets they hold and let him...
When we think of butterflies we think of freedom, gardens, beauty, colour, nectar and the miracle of metamorphosis. They are delicate and soft and weightless, almost like a whisper. If you want to keep those pretty thoughts in tact, then DO NOT READ ANY FURTHER…. For one, they do not only eat nectar. Butterflies need salts and minerals and for that they turn to…. Drinking salty fluids from the eyes and noses of other animals… Yes, this is poop and those are butterflies...
As this week’s Facebook movie star is Timon, the Meerkat from The Lion King, we thought we’d dig a little in the sand to get to know these guys a bit better and (just for fun) compare Timon to the rest of his relatives. For one, he looks like them, complete with dark rings around the eyes to cope better in the harsh sunlight. They are widely distributed over the dryer parts of Southern Africa, including Botswana, Namibia and South Africa,...
What do Ireland, New Zealand, Iceland and the Vatican City, have in common? ….You will not find a single snake on any one of them! So if you suffer from Ophidiophobia (Abnormal fear of snakes) then maybe you could treat yourself to a holiday to one of these destinations. On the other hand, if you are an Ophidiologist, then you would not want to do your research here. There are also many territories, or parts of countries without any snakes, like Hawaii, Greenland, Bermuda, St Helena, Isle...
Butterfly World Zoo is really excited about this concept. It teaches valuable principles and it is the simplest thing to make…even your 3 year old would love to help!! Admitting to the next generation that we did not do our best to curb the amount of waste on rubbish dumps and teaching them alternatives, is not only a good idea, it is becoming crucial. In stead of dumping your rubbish, why not make an Ecobrick and let the young ones help you? Here...
In the light of various interviews and documentaries about the validity of zoos, I thought it an opportune time to put a penny in the pouch and hopefully help you to make a heartfelt and head led decision on the question. So here goes… Maybe you have walked through a zoo and saw a beautiful Green Tree Iguana lying on a heated floor instead of somewhere in Brazil in a tropical forest and you thought… “This is not right. The poor guy...
Our Vervet Monkeys, Kiki and Bruce, need a bigger home for a better quality of life. They recently arrived at Butterfly World Zoo as previously owned pets, although they should be free in the savannah. Being territorial and intelligent animals they need space with stimulating activities. Acting as ambassadors to over 100 000 visitors each year that come to to appreciate their lives and antics. All donations raised go to their upgraded lifestyle as operational costs are covered by visitor...
At Butterfly World we aim to never stagnate and to never stop bringing even our most regular visitors a new and better experience. We have taken the leap last November and made some major changes. Our reception area now contains the largest privately owned skeleton display in the country. This is the result of an unusual hobby of a now 12 year old boy, Francois Malherbe, who picks up road kill and gives them a new lease on life. Our latest...