#398 erkenningsnummer p708816
september 23, 2015 \ newsweekly - € 0,75 \ read more at www.flanderstoday.eu current affairs \ p2
politics \ p4
Bye-Bye BadBoot
A pride and joy of Antwerp, the floating swimming pool on the Scheldt known as the Badboot, sank last week \2
business \ p6
innovation \ p7
education \ p9
Future’s so Bright
Several institutions in Ghent are teaming up to prepare non Dutch-speaking newcomers for higher education
Critters in need
art & living \ p10
Michelin on a Budget
The best chefs in Flanders are gathering next week behind Bruges’ train station to serve up their finest at brasserie prices \9
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© Courtesy natuurhulpcentrum
flanders’ rescue centres offer injured animals care and a temporary home diana goodwin more articles by Diana \ flanderstoday.eu
Every year, a network of centres, volunteers and caring citizens collaborate to rescue tens of thousands of animals across Flanders – from birds of prey to hedgehogs to lions – with everything from an ambulance service to an intensive care unit.
I
magine hiking in the woods and finding a baby bird that’s fallen out of its nest. Or your cat bringing a baby bunny it has captured to your back door. Or seeing an injured fox on the side of the road. You want to help, but what can you do? For thousands of people each year, these aren’t just hypothetical situations. And thanks to a network of wild animal rescue centres across Flanders, there is help for these sick and injured animals. Some 30,000 animals a year are rescued by caring citizens and brought to a specialised centre for medical care and rehabilitation. There are 10 such wildlife rescue centres in Flanders, and all but one of them are part of a network overseen by the non-
profit organisation Vogelbescherming Vlaanderen (Flanders Bird Protection). The agency was founded to protect birds from illegal capture and hunting but has since grown to become Flanders’ premier organisation working to protect native birds and other animals as well as their habitat. “Vogelbescherming Vlaanderen is an umbrella organisation for nine wild animal rescue centres across Flanders,” explains Jimmy Pijcke, a co-ordinator for the agency. “They all operate independently, so we provide co-ordination and support. Four times a year, we host a meeting of all the centres where they can come together and exchange information, and we also provide training. How to apply for government subsidies, for instance.” The rescue centres range in size from a small shelter run out of a private home, to a large, professional organisation that takes in thousands of animals each year. Most employ a few paid staff members, including veterinarians and animal care specialists, but they rely heavily on volunteers to care
for the animals. The vast majority of wild animals they receive are birds; of all the animals they receive, about 60% are able to return to the wild. Pijcke emphasises that the goal is always to return the animal to its natural environment whenever possible. A common way of reintroducing the creature to the wild is through what he calls a “soft release”. When the animal is ready, the cage is left open so that it can venture outside. “But if it can’t find enough food at first, it can come back and get some food at the centre. Eventually, it doesn’t come back anymore.” Forthemostpart,individualswhofindinjuredanimalsbring them to one of the rescue centres themselves. However, in some areas the nearest centre is pretty far away. In Flemish Brabant, for instance, there is no rescue centre within easy reach of most residents. That’s why, particularly in that province, Vogelbescherming Vlaanderen created the Wildlife Taxi Service – a network continued on page 5