Rescued Wild Animals

[Zambar]

One of the main tasks of my nearest collection, the New Forest Otter, Owl and Wildlife Park, is the rehabliation and release of wild animals brought into them by the public, vets and RSPCA that have been found orphaned and/or injured. If the latter cannot happen for whatever reason, the animal(s) will become a resident at the Park, serving as an ambassador for the species: A good example is the Park's two young red fox siblings, Bramble and Moss. A large amount of these rescued animals are injured or orphaned otter cubs, and these are kept in rows of off-show pens till they can go back into the wild.

However, I was looking at the site of another similar native-species collection in the UK, Wildwood, and found they do not take in injured wildlife as they feel it would be a health hazard to their own resident animals.

What is your opinion on this? Do you think it's a good act if a zoo or wildlife centre can maintain a wildlife rescue programme, or is it too much of a risk introducing potential diseases from outside into a collection?

 

[Pertinax]

A large amount of these rescued animals are injured or orphaned otter cubs, and these are kept in rows of off-show pens till they can go back into the wild.

Do you know if these have come from the local area or how far afield? How many animals do they usually hold? Do they release them in the New Forest area or on Rivers like the Itchen & Test which have existing Otter populations?

 

[Zambar]

Most of the other animals (eg. Hedgehogs, Foxes, Deer) come locally from nearby members of the public and branches of the RSPCA. Otters, they're speciality, can be brought in locally (one was rescued, but sadly didn't make, it from very near me) or from far across the UK, as the Park is renowned as Britain's foremost otter rescue centre. For example, Wales and Cornwall. However, it should be noted that they would go through health checks at the vet clinincs there first.
There are two rows of about half-a-dozen pre-release pens, capable of holding up to two or three otters. Otters are always released near to the point they were rescued when it is suitable.

 

[Pertinax]

Otters, they're speciality, can be brought in locally or from far across the UK, as the Park is renowned as Britain's foremost otter rescue centre.

Thanks for the explanation. I know that while there are Otters locally on some rivers in Hampshire nowadays they are still nowhere near as common as they are in places like the West Country or Wales. So I was a bit perplexed where so many 'rescues' might came from. Now I understand.

 

[Hix]

However, I was looking at the site of another similar native-species collection in the UK, Wildwood, and found they do not take in injured wildlife as they feel it would be a health hazard to their own resident animals.

That would suggest they have no quarantine facilities.



Hix

 

[Jurek7]

It depends from a zoo I suppose!

Certainly wild animals can bring some nasty infectious diseases with them.

Other problem is number of animals arriving. I visited one zoo/bird rescue center which has off-show aviaries filled with non-releaseable birds. Say 20 buzzards, 12 long-eared owls, 10 tawny owls, 15 jackdaws, 8 magpies, pigeons, crows, ducks, herons, coots etc. etc. Incredible sight. Sort of a Hitchcock film made real. And each can live for 10-20 years.