Spring 2017 | Issue 12 Spring 2016 | Issue 10 | Page 17

Wildlife Top 10
Last year the Wildlife Centre admitted
and cared for 3,583 sick, injured or
orphaned animals.
These animals – representing 168
species – came in all sizes, from Mute
swans and Grey seals, to tiny Dormice
and Wrens. Our top ten species for the
year were as follows:
ew Forsyth

Photo: Andr

otolibrary

/ RSPCA Ph

and stoned. There have also been some
worrying new trends in cruelty to gulls
seen at West Hatch and other RSPCA
centres, with gulls having been lured into
the roads with food and deliberately run
over, gulls being poisoned or fed laxatives
and even gulls being ‘fished’ with rod
and line.
We are here to help these birds in need
and we rehabilitate hundreds each year
but we would like to do more.
If you think prevention is better than cure
why not join us as a volunteer speaker
standing up for gulls and all other animals.
We can provide training for you to go
into primary schools and deliver talks
and workshops that help children to
gain empathy and understanding for the
animals we live alongside every day. This
in turns helps bring us one step closer
to the RSPCA’s vision of a caring world
where all animals are respected and
treated with compassion.

1. Herring gull: 579

2. Hedgehog: 376
3. Wood pigeon: 304
4. Mallard duck: 289
5. Feral/town pigeon: 195
6. Blackbird: 141
7. Mute swan: 109
8. Jackdaw: 108
9. Rabbit: 104
10. House sparrow: 73
Admissions to the wildlife centre are
very seasonal, with the biggest surge in
numbers coming in the spring and early
summer. At these times we are feeding
hundreds of orphans from 8am - 9pm
and staff and volunteers work incredibly
hard to help these youngsters grow and
thrive and make it through to release.

If you would like to be a volunteer
ambassador for wildlife, please email
us at [e-mail]

Photo: Philip Toscano