[3][4] According to Colleen Gill: With the help of "a handful of enthusiasts" and the assistance of T. C. Robertson, the local council agreed to preserve the area of Ilanda Wilds.

[5] In March 1972, Stan Craven, then chairman of the local Wildlife Society, arranged the formation of a steering committee for the proposed development of Ilanda Wilds.

[7] According to Keith Walters who was in charge of maintaining Ilanda Wilds: And: In 2009 a committee was set up by members of the local community under the guidance of Jomo Sibisi.

[6] It was intended to upgrade Ilanda Wilds for environmental education of local school children, and to provide guided walks to foreign visitors to the 2010 World Cup.

[6][8] A field ranger by the name of Musa Mfeka was deployed to Ilanda Wilds in 2009 to prevent grazing of cattle, harvesting of medicinal plants, dumping of rubbish and garden refuse, and to protect the local wildlife.

[6][8] Other intentions of some members of the committee were to develop a motorbike track in the reserve, a concrete boating slip-way, and a restaurant on top of the cliffs.

[9] A herd of 29 cattle were subsequently free to overgraze the floodplain areas, despite appeals to the metro police, the municipality and the cow herder.

[6][17][18] The reserve is also an important wintering site for the endangered spotted ground-thrush (Zoothera guttata),[14][19] and provides habitat for the blackheaded dwarf chameleon (Bradypodion melanocephalum),[14] which is endemic to KwaZulu-Natal.

[14][17] Species of Amanzimtoti River and Ilanda Wilds: Blue duiker (Cephalophus monticola bicolor),[19] bushpig (Potamochoerus larvatus koiropotumus), Cape clawless otter (Aonyx capensis capensis),[17] large-spotted genet (Genetta tigrina), banded mongoose (Mungos mungo taenianotus), water mongoose (Atilax paludinosus paludinosis), large grey mongoose (Herpestes icheumon), porcupine (Hystrix africaeaustralis),[19] greater cane rat (Thryonomys swinderianus), vervet monkey (Cercopithecus aethiops pygerythrus).

[14] A small selection of the species recorded: Reed cormorant (Microcarbo africanus), white-breasted cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo), green-backed heron (Butorides striatus), black egret (Egretta ardesiaca), purple heron (Ardea purpurea), black-headed heron (Ardea melanocephala), wooly-necked stork (Ciconia episcopus), hamerkop (Scopus umbretta), African spoonbill (Platalea alba), Egyptian goose (Alopochen aegyptiacus), African black duck (Anas sparsa), yellow-billed duck (Anas undulata), black crake (Amaurornis flavirostris), African jacana (Actophilornis africanus), long-crested eagle (Lophaetus occipitalis), African fish eagle (Haliaeetus vocifer), African goshawk (Accipiter tachiro), osprey (Pandion haliaetus), African harrier-hawk (Polyboroides typus), tambourine dove (Turtur tympanistria), emerald-spotted dove (Turtur chalcospilos), Narina trogon (Apaloderma narina), purple-crested turaco (Tauraco porphyreolophus), Burchell's coucal (Centropus superciliosus), spotted eagle owl (Bubo africanus), giant kingfisher (Megaceryle maxima), pied kingfisher (Ceryle rudis), brown-hooded kingfisher (Halcyon albiventris), pygmy kingfisher (Ispidina picta), half-collared kingfisher (Alcedo semitorquata), malachite kingfisher (Alcedo cristata), red-billed woodhoopoe (Phoeniculus purpureus), crowned hornbill (Tockus alboterminatus), trumpeter hornbill (Bycanistes bucinator), black-headed oriole (Oriolus larvatus), spotted ground-thrush (Zoothera guttata),[19] starred robin (Pogonocichla stellata), chorister robin (Cossypha dichroa), plum-coloured starling (Cinnyricinclus leucogaster), forest weaver (Ploceus bicolor), thick-billed weaver (Amblyospiza albifrons).