Wildlife heroes have nursed two serval kittens back from the brink after a sugarcane fire left them fighting for survival.
Mpumalanga, South Africa (29 January 2026) – Wild and Free Wildlife Rehabilitation’s Deidre Joubert says the kittens were just three weeks old when she received the urgent call to assist in their rescue in November last year.
“Dr Peet Venter received a call from Mr Gerrie Camacho from the MTPA (Mpumalanga Tourism & Parks Agency) asking him to go to a nearby farm, where reports had come in about serval kittens that were burned in a sugarcane fire,” shares Deidre.
“Dr Venter phoned me to assist and we went out promptly. Servals are listed as Near Threatened on the TOPS (Threatened or Protected Species) list, and from the video that was sent to us, we could see they needed urgent help.”
Both kittens were in critical condition when rescuers reached them. They were severely burned, dehydrated and suffering from smoke inhalation.
“Phoenix was particularly badly injured and was partially unresponsive when we found her. She had second-degree burns on her nose, face, paw pads and ear tips, and third-degree burns on her tail. Because of the severity of her burns and the state she was in, she required intensive care from the moment she arrived,” shares Deidre.
“Isha’s burns were slightly less severe, and we suspect she may have been partially protected by Phoenix during the fire. She had first-degree burns on her face and paw pads, second-degree burns on her ear tips, the top of her head and one paw pad, and third-degree burns on her tail.”
Phoenix and Isha – as they’ve affectionately been named – required immediate treatment for smoke inhalation and dehydration. Their condition was serious, and without specialised care, the odds would have been stacked against them.
That’s where the team at Wild and Free Wildlife Rehabilitation stepped in. The NPO cares for and rehabilitates indigenous wildlife in Mpumalanga. Deidre, an experienced wildlife rehabilitator and member of the International Wildlife Rehabilitation Fraternity, founded the organisation more than a decade ago.
The kittens landed in the best possible hands.
With round-the-clock care – thanks to helpers including Deidre’s daughter, Tumi, who stepped in for night shifts – Phoenix and Isha began their slow but remarkable recovery, one day at a time.
“Both kittens were treated with antibiotics for their lungs, given constant hydration, and received hourly nebulising for the first 48 hours, along with pain medication. We also had to keep their wounds clean and moist to prevent cracking and infection. Moist skin promotes faster healing, reduces scarring, eases pain, and prevents the formation of rigid, restrictive scabs,” says Deidre.
“Phoenix had to be drip-fed for three days because part of her tongue was burned. They had daily check-ups with our vet, Dr Venter, and we took recovery one day at a time.”
Today, the rescued servals are almost three months old!
Deidre says they’re hitting every recovery milestone and will remain in Wild & Free’s specialised care until they’re ready to be released back into the wild, where they belong.
“It will take a little longer before they can ultimately be released, as they’ve both lost half of their tails. We need to closely monitor their climbing, jumping and balance skills. But we are very positive – so far, they have healed beyond our expectations,” shares Deidre.
Sources: GTG Interview
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