The Owl Rescue Centre in Hartbeespoort is donating thousands of books to children from underprivileged communities, in the hopes of fostering a love and connection with nature and wild animals.

Danelle Murray with the books that will be donated to children.

“Whenever we do a wildlife rescue at a rural school, we take the opportunity, when possible, to do a little wildlife education,” Brendan and Danelle Murray, founders of the Owl Rescue Centre, said.
Danelle is the author of the book, Wild Adventures with Lazzy the Otter, which is based on the true story of the organisation’s journey with a four-year-old Cape Clawless Otter named Lazarus, who was rescued as a pup but remained in captivity until the rescue centre intervened. Lazzy now lives as a free and wild otter in the Crocodile River. He was seen with a female otter a few months after his release.
“Lazzy’s story, in many ways, is a perfect example of overcoming challenges in our own lives – to have courage, persistence, confidence and determination in what we wish to achieve,” Danelle says.
“It’s more important than ever to introduce kids to the beauty of nature. Teaching them about how humans can affect our planet and stressing the importance of wildlife preservation, sustainability, and environmental awareness is critical.”
It is with this in mind that Danelle wrote the children’s book for educational purposes. ” It is heartbreaking to realise that some children will never have the chance to observe wild animals in their natural habitats or be exposed to wildlife in the same way our children have. I am hopeful that this new book might provide a way for those kids to go on an imaginative adventure with wildlife, experiencing it through the pages of this story.”
Toyota SA graciously sponsored the books that will bring joy to thousands of children in rural areas and hopefully foster a love for wildlife.