Asyoureceivethis,thehustleandbustleofanothercheeping,squeaking,oftensomewhat ‘aromatic’,yetalwaysrewarding,orphanseasonbeginstodrawtoaclose.Overthelastfew months,WAFhasbeenfosterparentto:foxandbadgercubs;owlets;hatchlings,fledglingsand nestlingsofeveryconceivablegardenbird;ducklings…younamethespeciesandwe’vecared foritsoffspring!
Now,asourjuvenilefoxesandourfirstgroupofyoungbadgers,alongwithcountlessother successstories,begintoexploretheirnewworldsoutinthewild,wearemakingthefinal preparationstoourhibernatinghogaccommodationsuite.Remember,asthecoldcreepsin,if youspotahedgehogoutandabout,lookingtobebelow600g,pleasedocallus(oryourlocal wildliferescue)–ourpricklyfriendsneedtobeagoodweighttosurvivethewinter
Asalways,thankyouforyourcareand considerationofourbeautifulwildlife
Wishingyouwarmandwell,
LouCowell ManagingDirector
INSIDEWAF
ByKayleighHawkins
Workingwithwildlifehasalwaysbeenadream, evenwhilststilltrainingtobecomearegistered veterinarynurse Theworkloadisvariedandnotwo daysatWAFareeverthesame Fromthepeople thatIseeeverytimeIwalkin,totheanimalsthatI treat,Ineverknowwhattoexpect.
Anormalday,forme,usuallyinvolvesworking closelywiththevets, assistingintherecheckingof patientsunderourcare,and,also,thetriageofnew animalsbroughtintothecentre.I’mabletoassess foranyinjuriesorwounds,checktheweightand hydrationstatusofthepatient,andmonitorforany signsofdiseaseorinfection I’malsoabletoX-ray, carryoutbloodtests,placeIVcathetersandcarry outminorsurgicalprocedures,suchassuturing wounds,allunderveterinaryinstruction.Ifneeded,I amhappytojumpintohelpwithdailymedication roundsoranimalhusbandryduties,andIhavealso beenknowntotaketheoddphotoforsocial media!
Sadly,alotoftheanimalsthatcomethroughthecentrehavesufferedtosuchanextent, whetherthroughhumaninteractions,predatorattacksordiseaseandinfection,thatthekindest thingtodoisendtheirsuffering,humanely.Thishasgottobethehardestpartofthejobforme, anditreallycantakeitstoll.Irelyheavilyonstaffandvolunteers,alike,togetmethroughthose days Occasionally,IamreleasedfromthetreatmentroomandIdogettoseethehappierside ofwildliferehabilitation,likewhensomeoftheseanimalsarereleased Andthisisareallyspecial momentforeverybodyinvolved.Thosemomentsmakeeverythingworthwhile,knowingthat withoutthecentre,thestaff,thevolunteers,therescuersandeventhepublic,thattheanimal wouldn’thaveitssecondchance.
FoxNews
Wedon'tthinkwereallyhavetotellyouhow easyitisforfoxcubstofindthemselvesin trouble.Forbrotherandsister,Mavisand Sully,itwasoneoftheworstkindsoftrouble Suspectedofingestingatoxicsubstance, bothwerecollapsedonarrival,andbarely responsive.
Withhightemperaturesandtheirblood failingtocoagulate,ourvetteamstarted
themonaVitaminKmedicationtotryandreversetheeffectsofthetoxin,aswellasproviding IVfluids.
WhilstSullybouncedbackinunder24hours,Maviskeptusallontenterhooks,assheshowed seriousneurologicalissues,includinglackofco-ordination,constrictedpupils,andaninabilityto swallow.
Butourvetteamwasdeterminedtogivebothofthemthesecondchancetheydesperately deserved Afteraweekoftreatment,fluidsandsupportfeedswithOralade,Mavisfinallyturneda corner,andherneurologicalsymptomsbegantolessen.Asthepairofthembegantorecover, theybegantoout-growtheirpen,so,astheymovedthroughtherehabilitationprocess,going fromstrengthtostrength,theywereupgradedtoalargerspace,wheretheywerealsojoinedby fiveotherorphanedcubs
Thegroupofsevenhadnowbecomeatight-knit group,andthreemonthsafterarriving,collapsed andunresponsive,thegroupwasgivenitsfreedom intoasafe8-acrewoodland
PatientslikeSullyandMavisarewhywearehere; wehelpthemtofightforsurvival.Butitisyour donationsthatsavethem Theveterinarycare, medications,foodandhousingwouldnotbe possiblewithoutyou,so,thankyou,fromthemand, asalways,us!
Asifourbeautifulredfoxesdon'thaveenoughtocontend with,thisfrailandfragilevixenhadtheaddedtraumaof beingshot,threetimes.
Afterthisvixenwasspotted,unsteadyonherfeet,in Chessington,akindmemberofthepublictookthebrave actionofcatchingthefox,themselves Incredibly,doingso successfully,thevixenwasthentransferredintoourcare, whereamongstherpoorcondition,shewasalsofoundto havethreepelletsinherbody.
That'sthreetimesshefeltthesearingpainofapelletpiercingherbody Hitinherhead,neck andside,wecannotfathomwhatwouldpossessanyonetowanttohurtananimalthatalready hashunger,diseaseandcompetitiontodealwith.
Incredibly,thisvixenwasresilient,andvetandvetnurse,JudithandKayleigh,wereableto successfullyremoveallthreebullets,safely Asshecontinuedherrecovery,thevixenwasalso treatedforalowbodyconditionscore,aswellasmange
Whilstitmaynotbeillegaltoshootafox,itisillegaltocauseunduesufferingtoanyanimal,and thatisexactlywhatthisfoxhadbeenputthroughsincethepelletshither.Thankstoyour remarkablesupport,thisvixenhasbeengivenawell-deservedsecondchance ScantheQRcodebelowtoseeherreturntothewild
HedgehogHeadlines
BallooningHedgehog BallooningHedgehog
InourlasteditionofAdoptTimes,wesharedthestoryoftheballooningpigeon,aresultof subcutaneousemphysema,whereairseepsundertheskin,buthasnowheretoescape. Theconditioncanbearesultoftrauma,injuryand/orinfection,andwhilstitisn’taregular issueweseehere,wehaveseenitseveraltimes.
Balloonsyndromeisquiteawell-documentedconditioninhedgehogs,andthisyounghog wasinneedofalittlemedicalintervention,whichsawhimrelievedofover400mloftrapped air!
Thepoorhogletweighedlessthan150g,sothe pressurefromtheairmusthavebeen excruciatingforsuchan,otherwise,tinyframe Givenpainreliefandantibiotics,hewasclosely monitoredbyourfosterteam,as,occasionally, theproceduretoremovetheairneeds repeating,whilstinjurieshealandinfections clear.
Thislittlunisoneofseveralyounghedgehogs wewillseeoverthenextfewmonths,andwe needyourhelptogivethemallthebest possiblecare.
Weliketogiveourpatientsallthesupporttheyneedtogetthembacktothewild,evenifthat meansasilverspoonservice.Thisyoungfemalearrivedwithasmallwoundtoherback. Thankfully,theflyeggsonherhadn'tyethatched,but,worryingly,herbreathingappearedtobe causingheralotofdiscomfort
WithanX-rayconfirmingpneumonia,the littlehoglethasbeenreceivingsome extraTLCfromourvetteam,withsupport feedsandregularnebulisationtoease herbreathing.
Happily,sheisnowsportingavery healthyappetite,andwearehopefulthis littlehogisonherwaytohersecond chance
Helplesshogletsleftinabox Helplesshogletsleftinabox
Asifourfosterteamdidn'thaveenoughtocontend with,thesefivehoglets,aka"FleetwoodMac",arrived aftertheywerefoundinsideanenclosedbox,filled withearth.Withmumhavingnowayofreachingher young,thethreeboysandtwogirlswereluckyto havebeenfoundwhentheywere
Thesehogletswerelessthan48hoursold,soour fosterteamhadtheirworkcutoutforthem.Like manyanimalswerear,atsuchayoungage,with littletimehavingbeenspentwithmumtogainthe vitallyimportantcolostrumandnutritionally-packed milk,theirchancesofsurvivalfall,dramatically.But, inthe,always,besthandsofourfosterteam,we endeavourtotry,knowinghowincrediblyimportant eachofthesehogletsistoitsspecies
We'reunsureastohowthefiveendedupinsidethe box,but,please,alwaysseekadvicebefore disturbingormovingwildanimals.
Luckyescape! Luckyescape!
Withsomuchwildlifesearchingforfood,everyday,wildlifewilltakeaneasymeal,whateverway itispresented So,please,ifyouaregoingtousetraps,ensuretheyarehumane,andconsider theimpactonotherunsuspectinganimals
Weadmittedthislargemale hedgehogthathadfoundhimself stuckinsideahumanerattrap Thehedgehogwasunabletoback outofthetrap,duetohissizeand hisspinesactinglikehooks,butour vetteamwasabletocuthimfree; hewaswithoutinjuryandableto returnhomeonthesameday
BadgerBulletin
Oursmallestbadgercuboftheyear! Oursmallestbadgercuboftheyear!
...Andcuethe"aaaawwww".Bythetimetiny“Sandi”arrivedwithus,wehadseen7badgercubs comethroughthecentre,butSandiwas certainlythesmallest.
TransferredoverfromFollyWildlifeRescue, inTunbridgeWells,weighingjust1kg,she wasdiscoveredinSandhurst(Kent),hence thename,justyardsawayfromhersett.
ThefinderhadplacedtinySandiinto somethingwarm,nexttohersett,and monitoredherviaatrailcamera,inthe hopesthatmumwouldappearandtake Sandibacktosafety.Sadly,however,no adultsappeared,andSandiwastakenover toFollyWildlife,where,lethargicandhungry, shewasrehydratedandbroughtbackto health.
WithFollyalreadycaringforanincredible8badgercubs,weweremorethanhappytohelpease theirload,butweighingjustathirdofourlargestcub,KingGeorge,atthetime,Sandiwasstill needingalittlemoresupport,whereitcametoeatingandtoileting,herself.Afterafewdaysof one-on-onecarefromourfosterteam,Sandiwasbroughtbacktothecentre,andstartedher journeyontheweaningprocess.However,despiteSandi'sgreatappetite,shebeganlosing weightandhavingsome,well,tummytroubles Butwithourexpertveterinaryteamonhand, Sandiwasquicklydiagnosedwithabacterialinfectionandplacedonsuitableantibiotics,along withpro-biotics.AweeklaterandSandihadgainedalmost300g,andwasbecomingquitethe cheekylittlebadgercub!
Fast-forwardfourmonths,Sandi(weighingahefty9.5kg,mightweadd),alongsidesixother cubs,hasbeengivenherlong-aw ld Thiswouldn’thavebeen p edsu
Wherethere’sawillthere’sa“Willow!” Wherethere’sawillthere’sa“Willow!”
Simon'sspiritwascertainlywithuswhenbadgercub “Willow”wasbroughtintoourcare.Theyoungfemale wasourveryluckynumber13,afterbeingrescuedby theRSPCA.Willowwasfoundwithastickfirmly wedgedinsidehermouth,makingitimpossibleforher toeatordrink
Withthemajorityofourcubs,atthetime,weighingin at7to8kg,Willowwasatiny4kgonarrival,andso collapsedthatourthermometerswereunableto detecthertemperature.Asourvetteamgotstarted onwarmingherup,Willowproceededtomakethings harderwhenshestoppedbreathing.
Vetnurse,Kayleigh,sprangintoactiontogetWillow breathingagain,whilstvet,Paddy,intubatedherin ordertoassistherrespiration After30minutesof warming,fluidsandstabilisation,Willowwasplaced intoawarmpen,whereitthenbecameawaiting gametoseeifherbodycouldrecover
At8pmonthesameday,whilstwatchingWillowvia CCTV,Kayleighfinallysawhertinybodybeginto respond.
Whilstnotfullyoutofthewoods,Willowmadeslow progress,buthadsomegoodbadgerattitudewhenit cametohercheck-ups!
8daysafterneedingCPRtosaveherlife,Willowmade anastoundingrecovery Duetothelengthoftime Willowhadbeenwithus,shewasunabletobe returnedtoherfamilysett,astheriskofthem rejectingherwasveryhigh.Instead,shewas introducedtoarethen,groupof12humbugs,where shecouldcontinueherrecovery,whilstenjoyingthe companyofhernewadoptedsiblings.
Willow,alongwithfiveotherslightlysmallercubs,is nowjustacoupleofweeksawayfrombeingmoved tohersoft-releasesite,whichiscurrentlyunder construction Untilthen,youcanwatchWillowandthe othersbouncingaroundtheirpen,overonourlive webcams,justscantheQRcode
Thename'badger' comesfromthe Frenchword 'bêcheur'which means'digger'
Owl Tweets
Isitjustusthatthinkalittleowl'sfaceneedsitsownemoji?
Havingbeenonquitethejourneyafterreportedlyfallingfromalargetree,"Uber"originatedfrom aNationalTrustsite,hethenproceededtovisittwovetpracticesandapigeonrehabberbefore, finally,hewasplacedinanUberandsenttous.
Unabletolocatehisnest,hewasstillalittletooyoungtobewanderingalone,sohewassent homewithoneofourfosterercarers,whilsthelearnttoeatforhimself.Withsomeconcernthat hewouldbealoneowlforlongerthanwe'dlike,webeganthesearchtofindafriendforhim.But thesearchdidn'tlastlong,as,justafewdayslater,anotherlittleowlarrivedincare,underthe samesadcircumstances
Thepairwere,soonafter,joinedbyathirdlittleowl,andthetriowasgiventhenecessary environmentandenrichmenttohelpthemprepareforlifeinthewild,includingsomelive creepy-crawlies,whichhelpedthethreeowlshonetheirhuntingskills,andgetusedtochasing whatwouldbecomethemainpartoftheirwilddiet
Asthethreesteadilygrew,theirsoft-releasepenwasconstructedina36-acrerurallocation withnaturalmeadowsandsurroundingwoodland,thattheywouldsooncallhome.OnAugust 30th,atdusk,thedooroftheirsoftreleasepenwasopened,anditdidn’ttakelongfortheowlsto starttheirnewjourney,backinthewild.
Atawnyowlisknown forit’scallbutthisis twoowls. Thefemalemakes the"too-whit"part, whilethemalemakes the"too-woo"part.
Over-indulged! Over-indulged!
Returnedtotheirnestquickerthanyoucansaytawny owl,theseadorablefluff-ballswereourfirst,verylucky, owletsoftheyear.
Theproactivelandownersfoundthesiblingsatthebase ofanoldbeechtree,nexttoasizablebranchthathad clearlybeensupportingthenest'sstructure.Regrettably, whenthebranchgaveway,thenestopenedup, causingthedodderyowletstotumbleout
Thefinderscalledusstraightawayforadviceand,after averybriefvisittoourhospitalforacheck-over,much totheowls’feistyannoyance,thepairwereclearedto bereturnedtotheirnest.
WiththeinvaluablehelpofTreelineServicesLtd& ArboriculturalAssociation,thenestwasquicklylocated, includingthediscoveryofathirdowlet.Usingnatural substrates,theopensideofthenestwasabletobe blockedoff,preventingarepeatfall,butallowingthe parentstostillreturntotheirbrood
Well,we'veallbeenthere,justonetoomanyroastiesata Sundaydinnerandthat'sit,we'restationaryforatleast thenextfourhours.
Withabirds’light-weightstructureallow effortlesslytaketotheskies,it'snosurpri consumptionofpreythreetimestheirsiz awildrabbit-renderedthisbarnowlflig
Akindgentlemanwhohad,previously,se hunting,duringtheweek,knewsomethin rightwhenhecameacrossthegrounde onaneveningstroll.Despitehisapproac didn’ttakeflight.
UponX-ray,theskeletonofarabbitcoul and,withnootherreasonforthebirdtob we 'reprettysure,aswe'veseeninarang ofprey,thisbirdhassimplyover-indulge fewdaystodigest.
Deer Daily
Hay-nethazard! Hay-nethazard!
It'struewhattheysay,teamworkmakesthedreamwork,and thisentangledfallowdeerwasluckyenoughtohavethe RSPCA,WallingtonAnimalRescueandWAFcometohis rescue,afterhebecameentangledinahaynetusedforthe residenthorses.
Injust4minutes,theassembledrescuerswereableto restrain,cutfree,andreleasethelargebuck.Timereallyisof theessenceintheseincidents,withrescuersalltoofamiliar withthedangersofcapturemyopathy.
Thedeerwasobservedafterrelease,asitranacrossfields, inspiringhopethatithadbeenfreedjustintime
RoadsideSurgery! RoadsideSurgery!
Evenslow-movingtrafficcancausesomeprettynasty injuries,asthispooradultroedeerfoundout
AfteracallfromourfriendLouisattheRSPCA,vet,Paddy, andmanager,Douglas,rushedtoCobham There,they foundaninjuredmaledeer,sufferingwithwoundstohis lowerback.
Louishadrightlycoveredthedeer’shead,drastically reducingstressfortheotherwisehighly-strungspecies. Paddysettoworkassessingtheinjuries.Thankfully,asthe woundswerejustsuperficial,hewasabletocleanthem andapplyTerramycin,abroad-spectrumantibiotic spray Oneofthelowerwoundsrequiredafewsutures, whichPaddywasswiftlyabletoprovide
Withthedeerun-sedatedfortheentiretyofhis assessmentandtreatment,ourconcernsturnedtohis behaviour.However,aftersomesub-cutfluidstohelp withtheshockthathewaslikelyexperiencing,Paddy, DougandLouisliftedthedeeroverthefencetosafety and,oncethetowelwasremovedfromhishead,wewere overthemoontoseehiswildinstinctskickin!
Rabbit Report
Ourfirstorphanoftheyear Ourfirstorphanoftheyear Soundthealarms,battendownthehatches,andget readyforanoverloadofcuteness!Ourorphanseason begunonthe1stofMarchanditstartedusoffwitha challenge!
Thistiny39grabbitkit,onlyafewdaysold,arrivedafterhis nestwasdisturbed Sadly,withnosignofmumorsiblings, andthelittleonebeingprettyunresponsive,thefinder swoopedin,scoopedupthehairlesscutie,andwhisked himofftooneofouramazinghomecarers,whoknewjust whattodo.
Hewentfromstrengthtostrength,and,onMay29th,he hoppedbackintothewild.Youcanenjoya30-secondclip ofthelittlebundleofcutenesspracticingherdigging, beforeshe’devenopenedhereyes,justscantheQRcode, above!
Rescuedfromabonfire! Rescuedfromabonfire!
“Bonnie”wasfound,alongsidehersibling,underneathabonfire(nowyougetthename,right?), byoneofourveryownvolunteers.Knowingtocheckbonfiresbeforelightingthem,ourvolunteer sawthetwobunnies,withBonnie'ssiblingnotlookinginthebestcondition.
Quicklybroughtovertous,Bonnie'ssiblinghad,sadly,notsurvivedthejourney.But,weheldout hopeforBonnie Aftergivingherahealthcheck,ourvet,Morgan,placedherintoanalready warmed-upincubator,allowinghertowarmupbeforehecouldgiveherfluids
Afteracoupleofhours,Bonniewaslikea differentbunny,andwasactuallygiving Morgantherunaround,evenwithhereyes stillclosed!
Transferredtooneofourfosterersforoneon-onecare,shemadeafullrecovery fromherordeal,andwasreleasedintoa safelocationwithanexistingpopulation ofrabbits
PigeonPost
We’reneversurehowtoexpresscaseslikethis poorpigeon’s.
Thispoorpigeonwasthevictimofhorrific cruelty Accordingtoeyewitnessreports,he wascapturedbyagroupofchildrenbefore theycutoffthefeathersonbothwingswitha pairofscissors.Ifthiswasn'tbadenough,they thenrepeatedlythrewhimintotheairto'seeif hecouldfly'
Itwasonlythankstotheinterventionofa memberofthepublicthathewasrescued. Arrivingwithaheadinjuryandmassivefeather loss,stabilisinghimtooktime,butifhewas goingtogethisfreedomsoon,wehadto surgicallyintervene
Ifyou’vefollowedourworkforawhile,youmay haveheardofaprocedureknownas‘imping’, aprocesswhereby‘donor’feathersare implantedintotheexistingfeathershafts Althoughthedamagedfeatherswould eventuallymoultnaturally,thisprocesscan takealongtime;impingavoidsthestressof extendedcaptivity
Usingcolour-matchedfeathersfromadonor bird(onethathad,sadly,alreadypassed away),ourvetteamsettoworkontheimping procedure Eachfeatherwascarefully measuredandcuttosizebeforebeingglued intotheexistingfeathershaft,usinganinternal woodendowel.
Withcarebeingtakentopreservetheshapeof thewing(vitalforflight)bothwingswere lookingasgoodasnewinnotime,andafter givingthepigeonsometimetoadjust,hewas successfullyabletoreturntohiswaitingflock.
Shotwithacatapult Shotwithacatapult
Creatingbehaviouralchange,whereitcomestohow ourwildlifeistreated,isoneofourbiggestchallenges hereatWAF,butitisachallengewewillcontinuetotake on,tosaveasmanyanimalsaspossiblefrom unnecessarysuffering.
Thisferalpigeonwasshotwithacatapultball-bearing, whichbecameimbeddedintothebird'sabdomen,on topofthis,hehadsufferedafracturetohiswing,and wascaughtafterbecomingentangledinnetting.What anhorrificordealthisbirdhadgonethrough,andall completelyunnecessarily.
Wewillneverunderstandwhatpossessessomeoneto causesuchcruelty But,weneedyourhelptochange suchbehaviour,toteachthenextgenerationhow importantourwildlifeisandtheincrediblebenefitsit bringstoourworld.Withoutourwildlife,wesimply wouldn'tbehere
IIt’srainingpigeons t’srainingpigeons
Asthesayinggoes,whenitrains,itpours,and,currently,it'spouringpigeons Unlikemanyofour gardenbirdsandbirdofpreyspecies,pigeonscan,anddo,breedallyearround,butthereare definitelypeaksaroundspringandautumn.These7youngsters,justaweekorsoawayfrom fledging,weresavedfrompestcontrollersbyakindmemberofthepublic.
Withtheparentsabletoflee,the remaining7squeakersweregiventhe chancetofinishtheirgrowing,andbe releasedintoasafe,pigeon-friendly location,amongstanexistingflock.
Asasocialandadaptablespecies, pigeonsoftendoverywell,once released,owingtotheirremarkable abilitytolearnnewthings,quickly.
Bat Broadcast
Cat-attackedbat Cat-attackedbat
It'salmostasifHalloweenisaroundthecorner,becausethebat casualtiesjustkeeponcoming!
Afteradmitting45individualsofthebatfamily,thisgrumpyadult Pipistrellearrivedhavingbeenapprehendedbyacertainpopular petspecies
Asyoucansee,unfortunately,hedidnotescapeunscathed,with multipletearstohisrightwingmembrane Thankfully,batsare supercool!
Whilsttheirflightmembranesareessentialtotheirsurvival,one issuebatspecieshaveistheregulardamagethatcanbedoneto theincrediblythinwingtissue,but,justastheirecholocationability isoneamazingsuper-power,theirabilitytohealincrediblyfastis another!
Senttoreceiveone-on-onecareashehealsup,we'rehopingthis littleonewillsteerclearofanyfelineneighbours,inthefuture.
Haveyoueverseenababybat? Haveyoueverseenababybat?
Thistinylittleyoungster(seriously,hewasonly2cmlong!)isa juvenilepipistrelle,andheneededalittlehelpafterbeingfound aloneonapathway Atthisage,youngbatsshouldstillbeclinging totheirmother,sohewasdefinitelynothavingagoodday!
Arrivingcoldandquitedehydrated,hewasgentlywarmed(avital stepbeforerehydrationorfeeding)andgivenOraladeoral rehydrationsolution.
Oncealittlemorestablethistinyyoungsterwastransferredintothe capablehandsofSteve,fromSurreyBatRescue,givinghimthebest possiblechanceofreturningtothewild!
AdoptionImpact
AtWildlifeAid,weplayhosttonearly200Britishwildlifespecies,andyoursupportplaysapartin rescuingandrehabilitatingthemall.Let'sdiveintothewildworldofsomeotherquirkycritterswe gettohelp.
Withthisspecialspecies,rarelyarrivingatthisage,it'sunderstandable thattheiridentitywasn'timmediatelyknownbysomeoftheteam. However,withacoupleofeagle-eyedtwitchersinourarsenal,they werequicklyidentifiedasswifts
Justdaysold,sadly,theirnestwasdisturbedthepreviousday,bya roofer,andthesiblingswereleftwithoutareturningparent. Thered-listed,alwayshand-fed,must-grow-with-absolute-perfection, with-not-a-feather-out-of-placeswifts,weregoingtotakesome seriousdedication,sowewereoverthemoonwhenswiftexpert,Kasia, wasabletotakethemon.44dayslater,Kasiasuccessfullyreleasedthe siblingsinflawlesscondition
Thislittleonelookedlikehe'dgone10roundswithTyson(the original),sufferingawoundtohissideandbruisingacross hisabdomenandtheentiretyofhisback.But,clearly,he's theRockyofrobins,becausehe'sbackupandreadytofight on!
Literally,thishelplessnestlingsurvivedapredatorthatis1000 timeshissize(please,don'tquoteusonthatmaths);isthere anythingmoreinspirationalthanthestrengthofourbeloved wildlife?!
Wegetit,noteveryonewouldcallarat"cute,"butthislittleguy wasanabsolutesweetheart,lastweek!Caughtbyapesky neighbourhoodpredator,hewaslookingprettyunsteadywobbly,dehydrated,andunderweight Seeminglystillinastate ofshock,asratsaren'tusuallytheeasiestpatients,thislittlepup wasoddlyobliging,allowingourvettogivehimathorough check-over Tohelpwithhishydrationandshock,Meriemgave himaspecialcocktailoffluids,vitaminsandminerals,andjusta fewdayslaterhewasbright,alertandreadyforfreedom!
Thisperegrine’sreasonforadmissionwasduetobeingattacked byanotherperegrine-whetherthiswashisparentorarivalbird, we ' reunsure Eitherway,thenewly-fledgedyoungsterdidn'tquite getthestarttolifeintheskythatheexpected.Sufferingwitha woundtohisleftwingandshowingsomelessthancooperative behaviourwhenitcametoeating,thefalconwaswithusfora littlelongerthanwe’dhavewanted,andwithneitherparentstillon hisnest,thebirdwasinvitalneedofbeingtaughthowtohunt So, hewastransferedtoanexperiencedfalconer,whowillgivehim thebestchanceofreturningtotheskies
