Just outside the city of Johannesburg, South Africa, a veterinary hospital is saving wild animals that live nearby. “I’d love to be in the bush, but I get more cases here,” said Nicci Wright, a veterinary rehabilitation specialist. Wright and Karin Lourens, a doctor trained to care for animals, set up the hospital two years ago. Since then, they have treated about 4,000 creatures. Both Johannesburg and Pretoria, the South Africa capital, are expanding. The growth of the two cities is squeezing out animals that are native to the area. The wildlife hospital mainly treats small mammals and large hunting birds that are injured. The hospital now has about 160 patients. They include six leopard tortoises, a toothless 12-foot python and an otter that was taken from her natural surroundings when someone tried to keep her as a pet. Many animals coming to the hospital have not only physical injuries. They show signs of stress from being hurt by people.
