harnas - the story so far

 

Harnas is one of the few wildlife orphanages and welfare centers in Namibia.  Lions, leopards, cheetahs and wild dogs to the smallest surricate have made Harnas their home after being neglected, abused or abandoned. More than 380 indigenous wild animals reside here on Harnas.

The van der Merwe family has been farming in the Gobabis district of Namibia for the past three generations. Harnas is situated near the communal Hereroland.

Friends on Harnas

Harnas has, over the past 30 years, been involved in the care, rehabilitation and holding of orphaned, neglected, abused and abandoned wild animals. On 19th January 2001, our founder, Nick van der Merwe, father and husband, died of a sudden illness. His beloved wife Marieta, the beating heart of Harnas, their children and their spouses have since been intimately involved with the managing and development of Harnas.

 

Harnas began from an instinctive love for wild animals.  The name Harnas, which was given to the farm years before the family lived there, proved prophetic. As if this land was destined to protect the less fortunate Beings: To act as a shield for them. 

Recent publicity given to Harnas has resulted in the  escalation of animals housed here, transforming the initial personal “hobby” into a full-time occupation for nearly 50 individuals.

Young cheetahs on Harnas by Martin Harvey

Namibia is currently struggling with an approximate unemployment rate of 40% with a low income rate for most of the population and so human survival must take center stage.  When farmers have to protect livestock against predators, in hope of making a living, their choices are very limited and therefore conservation suffers severely. This weak economy produces social problems for humans which subsequently affects their relationship with nature.

Marieta van der Merwe with Lion on Harnas

Therefore Harnas, finds it difficult to turn away requests to take in animals, where the only alternative would lead to their death.  At first,  the Harnas family used their own earnings to bare the Harnas expenses,  but due to the dramatic increase in both the number of rescued animals and the operational costs of the wildlife foundation, the necessity for a wildlife trust fund was born.

 

This need was met with in 1997 when the Harnas Wildlife Foundation Trust Fund was instituted. In March of 2000 the “Harnas Wildlife Foundation” was registered in Germany.  The “Harnas Wildlife Foundation Trust Fund” is a non-profit organization that obtains its funding from sponsors, donations and adoptions. This important project “Harnas Wildlife Foundation” is currently registered as a welfare organization

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