Saving our endangered wildlife

The Spirit Wildlife Foundation bomas enhance the magnificent work of Wildlifevets

2025 was a year of real breakthroughs in the work of Wildlifevets with the support of the Spirit Wildlife Foundation Bomas. But what are wildlife bomas and why are they important?

Wildlife bomas are temporary or permanent fenced enclosures used in conservation for safely holding animals for management, such as medical treatment, stress reduction, relocation or pre-release acclimatisation to a new area. They are designed to minimise stress and injury during capture and transport and often featuring funnels and gentle curves to guide animals, with some even serving community purposes like predator protection.

They are essential tools for wildlife management, allowing for monitoring, population control, and integrating species into new habitats. 

Bomas have several key uses in conservation.

In the case of translocation and acclimatisation, animals are held for a few days in a “pre-release boma” within their new territory to get used to the surroundings before being fully released, reducing stress.

In the case of medical care, they provide a secure space for veterinary checks and treatment, often incorporating crush pens for handling.

They are also vital in population management when used for capturing animals for reintroduction programmes, balancing wildlife numbers, or moving animals from areas with limited grazing.

Vital in the case of South Africa is their use for quarantine when used for temporary housing of newly acquired animals to prevent disease spread. 

Bomas come with different design features and specifications. Materials can range from robust, semi-permanent structures with pipes and chains to temporary setups with curtains.

They are often V-shaped or funnel-like (a “fishbone” design) to guide animals easily towards loading ramps, avoiding sharp corners that cause panic.

Their amenities include water troughs, shade (nets or natural trees), and food (hay, pellets) to keep animals comfortable.

There are also portable versions of bomas to protect livestock or facilitate capture in remote areas. 

An example of how they work is translocation.

1. Animals are herded (sometimes by helicopter) into the funnel-shaped boma.
2. They are held for 1-3 days in the pre-release boma with food, water, and shade.
3. The curtains are opened, allowing animals to leave on their own schedule, often returning to drink.
4. Once all animals have moved out and settled, the boma is removed. 

At the end of the third year of the partnership between Wildlifevets and the Spirit Foundation, it is a great time to reflect on what the collaboration has done for carnivore conservation across southern Africa so far.

• Three wild dog groups (totaling nine individuals) have come through the Spirit Bomas, with the dogs moving locally between Limpopo, KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga, and internationally between South Africa and Malawi.
• 11 cheetah have come through the Spirit bomas, with the majority being international moves between South Africa and Malawi. The current group is primarily with us for rehabilitation and some will also be relocated back to Malawi. We have also done a few moves between Limpopo, KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga.
• Two young leopards were being rehabilitated in the Spirit Bomas for a while until the Mpumalanga Parks and Tourism Agency made a suitable plan with them at another facility in the province.
• One spotted hyena that was found wandering in a residential area was safely captured and brought to the Spirit foundation bomas before his eventual release in the Greater Kruger Area.
• One male lion that was safely captured in Nelspruit close to the Mediclinic Hospital was kept in the Spirit Bomas until his safe release into the Kruger National Park.
• One honey badger that was captured by a bee farmer as it was destroying bee hives was brought to the Spirit Bomas before being released in the Barberton Nature Reserve.

We are now looking forward to an even more successful 2026 in making a difference to wildlife conservation!