Cohabitation with natural wildlife is a central ethos at the eco-focused estate Serenity Hills, where three rescued porcupines have recently benefited from the rewilding project. The releases were overseen by Estate Manager, Ryne Ferguson, who says all the animals are thriving in this healthy coastal environment.
“We had bushbuck and grey duiker successfully released in mid-January. This release went smoothly, and we’ve occasionally spotted the bushbuck near the Serenity Hills Clubhouse, which is great to see,” notes Ferguson. “In February, we received an urgent call from FreeMe Wildlife about the need to release three Cape porcupines that were captured by a farmer in a cabbage patch. They arrived the following day, and we were able to successfully release all three on the estate. Given that Cape porcupines are mostly nocturnal, we haven’t had any sightings of them yet, but that is to be expected.”
Serenity Hill joined the Green Custodianship through FreeMe Wildlife, aligning the estate with the ‘Islands of Hope’ Green Custodian programme. It’s through this affiliation that rehabilitated wildlife can be released onto the estate, contributing to the estate’s overall conservation efforts.
“We have a few Cape porcupines on the estate, however, it was felt that we could definitely accommodate these three guys, which would also bring some much-needed new blood to our gene pool,” he added.
5 Fast Facts About Cape Porcupines
- Cape porcupines (as do all porcupines) have banded quills, which are essentially their hairs.
- When threatened, porcupines erect their quills and back towards a predator (they do not shoot there quills!).
- Porcupines eat roots, bulbs, and bark, often ring-barking trees to open up woodland into savanna.
- Porcupines gnaw on bones for the minerals and to sharpen their teeth.
- A mating pair of porcupines can inhabit up to six burrows at a time.
Investing in Serenity Hills
Located on the KZN South Coast, Serenity Hills provides residents with the ultimate in secure coastal living. Living alongside the natural environment, there are already 53 established households – with demand surging for the remaining plots. Alongside wildlife restoration, the estate offers:
Green Living: Solar-ready homes, rainwater harvesting, and energy-efficient designs. Award-Winning Amenities: The Packshed Restaurant, Night Market, Sweet Gang & Friends Farm Stall. Top-Class Facilities:
Clubhouse, new Peaceful Escapes Spa, and private hiking and biking trails. Community Impact: Skills Upliftment Center and Sweetbike Project supporting locals. Ideally Positioned: Margate/Uvongo/Shelly Beach-adjacent location with access to quality facilities.
Book a site visit today.
Homeowners enjoy access to an active, holistic, and healthy lifestyle for the whole family – pets included! Buyers keen to get significant value for their investment are encouraged to visit Serenity Hills to view the last remaining premium stands for Phase 1.
To find out more or to book a viewing at Serenity Hills, visit www.serenityhills.co.za. For regular updates, follow @serenityhillsecoestate on Facebook and Instagram.
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Author: Agnes Matladi from Olivia Jones Communications on behalf of Serenity Hills.
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