One of the many animals injured by the fires that ripped through the Midlands in June is a zebra foal rescued from the Umgeni Valley nature reserve.
Nicknamed Crispy, because of its burn injuries, it is being cared for by Jane Symes and her team from the KwaZulu-Natal Freene Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre.
Symes said the foal was a fighter and she believed it would survive, but a long road of treatment lay ahead of it.
"She seems to be in pain today, but the vet is coming," Syme said on Monday. "The response to her plight has been amazing. We have had many donations and so much concern has been shown."
Animals burnt to death or injured included horses, cattle, sheep, goats and pigs, wildlife and birds. Zebras and buck are believed to have been among the worst affected.
Local vets have been unable to cope with the number of animals needing attention, several of which have had to be destroyed because of the severity of their injuries.
That's where the local SPCA came into the picture. Symes told The Mercury that too little credit had been given to the SPCA for its sterling work, which was continuing.
The battle now facing the many volunteers is to nurse injured animals back to health and to prevent widespread starvation as grazing and food stocks have been destroyed.
Umgeni SPCA Manager Rob Lombard said the plight of the animals had touched the hearts of many, and donations had poured in.
Among those who rallied to the assistance were Durban's ER24 paramedics, whose attention was caught by an appeal broadcast on East Coast Radio calling for volunteers, vehicles, food and sponsorship. They responded by driving to Howick with medical supplies.
ER24's Andre Botha was said to be overwhelmed by the response of companies which donated medical supplies worth more than R100 000, including burn dressings from Ladmed, bandages from BNS Medical and jars of Flamizine - a much sought after burns ointment - from Smith & Nephew.
Paramedics met senior Umgeni SPCA inspector Alec Wylie to find out they could help with dressing burn wounds or handing out feed.
On being told of the SPCA's need to distribute feed supplies but a lack vehicles, ER24 spokesman Derek Banks initiated another appeal on radio. Among many listeners who responded was Durban's 4x4 club.
"About 20 members came out here on Saturday. Howick Super Spar sponsored a breakfast for them at Side Walk Caf? and afterwards they loaded up the feed and set off in convoys to distribute it," Lombard said.