Every year, rescue centres for wild animals all over the world, including the EU, report on the number of animals they were able to rescue. The harsh reality behind those numbers is that they do not reflect the scale of the problem posed by illegal wildlife trade and private ownership of wild animals. Unfortunately, these numbers primarily reflect the available rescue capacity. Every year, thousands of rescue requests must be turned down due to lack of space in specialized facilities for native and non-native wildlife. How can we change this for the benefit of wildlife in need?
(c) AAP / Patrick Mueller
The European Alliance of Rescue Centres and Sanctuaries (EARS) was created in 2011 at the initiative of AAP (Animal Advocacy and Protection). EARS’ mission is to represent rescue centers and sanctuaries across Europe and enable them to collaborate to achieve shared animal welfare and conservation goals. After 14 years of collaboration, EARS members have determined that, even by optimizing their capacity, they will never be able to meet the growing demand for space to rescue and rehabilitate animals in need.
For most rescue centres, the ability to rehome animals as soon as they are healthy and rehabilitated is key to creating more space.
Therefore, rescue centres maintain extensive outplacement networks consisting of zoos and sanctuaries that meet animal welfare standards and can provide the necessary care. The big challenge lies in identifying zoos that are interested in taking in rescued animals, convincing them of the opportunities that this would bring, and helping them to make a smooth transition into this role.
The more zoos that participate in the fight against the illegal wildlife trade and the conservation of species that often fall victim to this cruel industry, the better. To raise awareness among zoos of this opportunity and help them understand the most common challenges associated with wildlife rescue, EARS has published a report entitled ‘Wildlife Rescue in Zoos’, which is available here. The report contains several case studies that highlight the experiences, challenges and best practices involved in bringing rescued animals to zoos.
Contact Dave Eastham at EARSfor any questions or enquiries - [email protected]
