CONSERVATION NEWS
CONSERVATION NEWS
The latest national and international news from the conservation world, compiled by Tim Clabon
IRISH NEWS
Ireland’s first dedicated
wildlife hospital
Ireland’s first dedicated wildlife hospital has been set up by Wildlife Rehabilitation Ireland (WRI) on a large site behind the Tara na Rí pub at Garlow Cross in Navan, Co Meath. Doors opened for their first casualties on Friday 19th February and according to Dan Donoher, Animal Manager, their first casualties were three young swans, a buzzard, an otter and a fox. The first patient seen was a vixen from Tipperary who had been hit by a car. She had an injury to her front right leg. She was seen by the vet, bandaged and stayed for three
weeks to recuperate. I'm delighted to say she was a great patient and returned to freedom just yesterday. “The most common injuries are from road traffic accidents, collisions with overhead wires and fencing, attacks from cats and dogs and unfortunately, incidents of crimes against wildlife are still all too common. The new WRI Wildlife Hospital will initially cater for around five hundred patients a month and will cost approximately €140,000 per annum to run,” says Mr. Donoher.
Aoife McPartlin of WRI said: “We believe that the rehabilitation of our native wildlife is crucial to protecting our environment. By removing an animal from its habitat the delicate natural balance changes, thus impacting not only on the surrounding environment, but all the way up to ourselves. This is what makes our work so important.” Aoife went on to say there is another important element to what WRI are doing at the hospital and that is in relation to positive mental health. People who have experienced job loss during the pandemic and as a result, depression, have offered their services and have described being able to help on such a positive project as benefiting them greatly. WRI has also recently teamed up with Praxis Care who supports young adults with mental ill health, autism and learning difficulties. The overall aim is to build a Teaching & Rehabilitation Hospital where WRI can teach not only vets how to care for and treat native wildlife, but also members of the public on how to recognise and help these animals. It will also include a visitor and education centre with shop, café, playground and exhibition area. The hospital can take all species of native wildlife, from anywhere in Ireland, thanks to a nationwide team of volunteers. As they are not funded, WRI relies heavily on donations to run the hospital to the highest possible standard. You can donate to Ireland’s only Wildlife Hospital through its Go Fund Me page, via its website www.wri.ie, on its Facebook page, through Paypal and of course in all the other traditional ways. Irish Wildlife Summer ‘21
005_IWT Summer_2021_IWT Conaservation News_V1 REV4.indd 5
5
20/05/2021 14:57
