RUN FOR RELEASE
Let us introduce you to Sonny the Giant Anteater. Sonny was rescued in May 2023 when she was just 7 months old, after being found by local authorities in a wildlife trafficking incident. She had a cut on her head, had not eaten in days and was severely dehydrated. The authorities made the decision to place her at RAREC to be assessed and rehabilitated. During her time at RAREC, Sonny has been moved to a pre-release enclosure and has shown great natural behaviours, making her a release candidate. Now that her rehabilitation is almost complete, the next step for Sonny is release. Animal release presents many costs, which is why we need your help!
SIGN UP NOW TO SUPPORT US IN RETURNING SONNY TO THE WILD OR LEAVE A ONE-Time DONATION!
LET'S RELEASE SONNY TOGETHER
We are running to raise funds for the release of Sonny, a Giant Anteater in rehabilitation here at RAREC, and would like to ask you to sponsor or join us! Our goal is to run 200 km during the month of April, with a target of $ 10,000* which will allow the soft release enclosure construction and materials, transport, research and post-release tracking. We hope to complete the project and release Sonny by the end of 2025.
If you would like to be a part of Sonny’s story by running, select ‘run with us’ to receive your runner’s pack by email. This will include everything you need to start your challenge and raise some funds for Sonny!
If you’re not into running but would like to support our mission, select ‘sponsor us’ to donate. Every donation will play a vital part in Sonny’s steps to freedom.
The soft release process we have planned for Sonny, with the help of expert Arnaud Desbiez, will allow her release in a nearby reserve where other giant anteaters are known to live. The soft release method will allow Sonny a gradual reintroduction to the wild, while still receiving support and monitoring. This approach minimises stress and gives Sonny the opportunity to learn essential survival skills, such as foraging, before becoming fully independent, therefore increasing the likelihood of a successful transition into the wild.
The first step will be to introduce Sonny to the area in an open enclosure, which she will be able to return to freely if she feels uncomfortable or unsafe. Over time, as she becomes more acquainted with her new surroundings, she should choose to leave her enclosure completely and resume life in the wild, where we will be able to track her progress, wellbeing and movements using a GPS collar for the following 2 years. This data will be valuable for future releases and improving conservation strategies for the anteater species.
* Any excess funds will be allocated to a future release.