Nature Trust – FEE Malta – Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Unit has welcomed the fact that wildlife rescues keep increasing in numbers as local awareness of fauna and the importance to protect them is on the increase.
In a statement, the NGO said that since the organisation started the rescue operation at the end of the 90s, the number of calls have been increasing year by year. This is demonstrating that the awareness of people is on the rise.
NTM stressed taht people today are more conscious of the problems our local wildlife faces through irresponsible dumping, pollution and waste, over development, traffic increase etc etc.
The rescue line of the organisation said that it s very busy taking daily calls to rescue hedgehogs found injured or unwell, shrews stuck in glue traps, lizards and geckos, marine turtles caught in floating debris, or boat hit or with ingested hooks, dolphins with injuries and many more.
“In the last two years, we also noted an increase in Bat calls since the current heat waves caused by climate change are impacting these animals and many are dropping while flying to catch their food, due to dehydration.,” NTM said.
Another positive increase has been noted on local snake calls. “This is even more positive since while some people still are afraid of these harmless reptiles yet they are calling our lines to rescue them rather than kill them,” the organisation said.
Apart from collecting these wildlife and taking them to their vets and rehabilitate them to release back into the wild, NTM said it is also collecting valuable data on the distribution of these animals, pollution health, identify new problems these face and other relevant data all of which contributes to scientific research in this area
Since the beginning of the year Nature Trust Wildlife Rescue line has received over 400 rescue calls out of which include – 287 calls to rescue Hedgehogs, 50 calls to rescue Bats, 4 calls to rescue Shrews, 13 calls to rescue Turtles and 30 calls to rescue Snakes
NTM again reminded the public that the Wildlife Rescue Emergency Number is +356 9999 9505. This is for all terrestrial local mammals and reptiles
For domestic animal rescue in Gozo the public is to call Animal Welfare Gozo on 7969 1717, or in Malta on 1717 and for birds in Gozo or Malta to call Birdlife Malta on +35679255697
Nature Trust expressed its thanks to the Civil Protection Department, the Armed Forces of Malta and the Transport malta maritime Section who often assists the unit in rescues. It also thanks the public for their help and support. The comments are encouraging to all the wildlife volunteers
The Wildlife Rehab Unit is today supported by ERA as the responsible authority of the Environment and protected local species and LottoLand who is supporting the organisation with the much needed medical Equipment
Anyone who can dedicate some 5 to 10 hours a week and help the unit as a Wildlife rescue Volunteer is to send an email to info@naturetrustmalta.org [1] with subject Wildlife Rescue Volunteer. The Unit has 4 regions Gozo, North Malta, Central Malta and South Malta
Photos: 11 hedgehogs released back into the wild in Gozo [2] last year and diagram showing hedgehog rescues distribution