When Ralph arrived at the Johannesburg Wildlife Veterinary Hospital, he was a tiny 600gms, now he is free and making cane rat friends.
Johannesburg, South Africa (13 February 2024) – Ralph the Greater Cane Rat has fans of the Johannesburg Wildlife Veterinary Hospital feeling total delight as he makes his way to freedom. The young Cane Rat first popped up on our radar after he was rescued and photographed chewing his way through his delicious grasses.
His cute, chubby face is now mature enough for him to head out on his own. During his stay, volunteers where committed to giving him a variety of foods, bringing in various indigenous grasses for Ralph to snack on. He definitely won over the hearts of his supporters.
The team celebrated his recent release by sharing the final update on his progress since his rescue in October 2023.
“After a confiscation by Brakpan SPCA, a 600gram greater cane rat (Thryonomys swinderianus) arrived at our practice. After weaning him off of his milk formula and introducing him to a variety of natural grasses, he was placed in a pre-release enclosure at Helderfontein Estate.
The residents graciously accepted little Ralph and his pre-release enclosure, which offered Ralph the opportunity to introduce himself to the resident cane rats in a non-threatening environment. Six weeks of dedication from the Spingtime Environmental Solutions team saw ecologist Grant Fairley and his team providing daily enrichment and food for Ralph. A kind resident, Russell Thompson, provided the wifi needed for us to observe Ralph’s progress during this time, and capture some special moments, like Ralph meeting other cane rats!
We could not have asked for a better release site, and are SO grateful to everyone who made this possible. Thank you to everyone who played a role in Ralph’s successful release, from the SPCA for rescuing Ralph to the volunteers bringing grasses in often, this was a team effort, and we really made a difference in the life of the gorgeous Ralph.”
Take a look at the moment he was released below. Farewell Ralph we wish you a life filled with happy grass clipping!
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