Breaking Wildlife Law Could Cost You Thousands

Spain’s landscapes, from nan mountains of Granada to nan wetlands of Doñana and nan rugged Atlantic seashore of Galicia, are afloat of wildlife. Encounters pinch sick, injured, aliases disoriented animals are not uncommon. While nan small heart whitethorn beryllium to help, acting without due guidance tin harm nan animal, and successful immoderate cases, onshore you successful ineligible trouble. As an knowledgeable wildlife veterinary caregiver moving crossed Spain, I person seen really well-intentioned attempts to thief animals tin sometimes do much harm than good. Knowing nan correct steps and contacting nan correct authorities is basal for some nan animal’s endurance and your ineligible safety.

Do Not Act Alone

The astir important norm is simple: do not effort to dainty aliases merchandise wildlife connected your own. Even well-meaning efforts tin origin superior damage. A vertebrate of prey handled incorrectly tin injure some itself and nan rescuer. A hedgehog aliases fox cub whitethorn look harmless but could transportation disease.

Stranded dolphins aliases turtles must ne'er beryllium pushed backmost into nan sea. This is simply a correction I spot acold excessively often, and successful astir cases it leads to nan decease of nan animal. The mostly of stranded marine mammals are sick aliases injured, and without due veterinary appraisal and curen they cannot survive. Returning them to nan h2o only masks nan problem temporarily and denies them nan chance of recovery.

Never, nether immoderate circumstances, should anyone effort to thief a ample injured animal, specified arsenic a boar, ibex aliases deer. These animals tin beryllium highly vulnerable erstwhile injured arsenic they consciousness threatened, and they tin earnestly injure someone, moreover kill. Never grip wildlife unnecessarily. Many species are legally protected, and handling them without authorisation tin consequence successful fines. For example, each reptiles successful Spain, including lizards, snakes, and turtles, are classed arsenic protected species. This illustrates why it’s basal to only intervene erstwhile an animal is successful contiguous threat and to travel due ineligible channels.

Only move nan animal if it is successful contiguous danger, connected a road, astatine consequence of falling, aliases successful a business wherever it could harm itself. Stress and daze are arsenic vulnerable arsenic injury, truthful handling should beryllium minimal. If immobilisation is necessary, spot nan animal successful a ventilated container successful darkness. Never connection nutrient aliases portion to an injured animal. If nan animal is suffering from soul injuries, feeding aliases giving h2o could beryllium fatal. For example, babe birds do not portion h2o for illustration big birds, and forcing h2o into them tin lead to aspiration pneumonia. Always hold for guidance from authorised rescue centres aliases professionals earlier attempting to provender aliases hydrate wildlife.

Spanish rule is clear: only authorised wildlife rescue centres aliases veterinary professionals pinch typical permits whitethorn grip and rehabilitate chaotic animals. Regular vets are not authorised unless they clasp those circumstantial permits, truthful their domiciled is chiefly to nonstop you to nan correct authority and guarantee nan animal reaches nan correct installation safely.

Only authorised vets and clinics tin dainty sick aliases injured wildlife.
Photo credit: Molly Grace

Do Not Transport Without Permission

One of nan astir communal mistakes group make is picking up an animal and trying to present it themselves to a wildlife centre. This should ne'er beryllium done without first notifying nan centre.

If you are stopped by constabulary aliases biology officers while transporting a chaotic animal without anterior authorisation, you could look fines for forbidden possession aliases moreover beryllium suspected of wildlife trafficking. Rescue centres ever log and corroborate erstwhile they are expecting an animal. Without that confirmation, you consequence being held legally responsible. Following these steps is arsenic important for your information arsenic it is for nan animal’s welfare.

Not each injured animal requires urgent action. A sparrow pinch a damaged helping whitethorn request attraction but isn’t an emergency. A dolphin washed ashore aliases an injured ibex successful nan mountains, however, should beryllium reported immediately. When successful doubt, make nan call, explaining nan business to 112, SEPRONA, aliases nan nearest centre is ever amended than risking nan incorrect action.

Who To Call

Spain has a web of master centres and services for wildlife rescue. Which 1 you interaction depends connected nan type of animal.

• Endangered aliases Protected Species (CREA Centres): CREA centres are located successful Andalucia and are for animals specified arsenic nan Iberian lynx, eagle owls, aliases griffon vultures, telephone nan nearest Centro de Recuperación de Especies Amenazadas (CREA). These centres are regionally managed and authorised to attraction for nan astir susceptible species. You tin find accusation here
• Injured aliases Sick Wildlife (Fauna Centres): They are located astir Spain and are for endangered and non-endangered animals, for illustration hedgehogs, rabbits, kestrels aliases fox interaction a Centro de Recuperación de Fauna you tin find accusation here aliases connected nan GREFA tract here
• Marine Life (Stranding Networks / Marine Rescue Centres): For turtles, dolphins, aliases seabirds successful distress, interaction nan stranding web (Red de Varamientos) aliases a marine rescue centre. If unsure, dial 112. Never effort to return a marine animal to nan sea. Cetaceans (whales and dolphins) are protected species and astir stranded animals are sick aliases injured, and pushing them backmost into nan h2o almost ever leads to death. Stranded dolphins are a peculiarly clear example: moreover if they look healthy, they are often suffering internally, and returning them to nan h2o without appraisal tin beryllium fatal.

Never effort and negociate a ample injured animal by yourself. Photo credit: Molly Grace

Emergency Numbers to Save

• 112 – General emergency services
• SEPRONA (Guardia Civil’s biology unit) – 062 aliases +34 915 142 400

Remember: not each rescue centre appears successful charismatic directories, truthful searching online for: centro de recuperación de animals + your province is often nan quickest measurement to find nan correct contact.

In my acquisition observant adherence to these rules ensures nan animal has nan champion chance of survival. Every responsible decision, from contacting nan correct centre to avoiding unnecessary handling, contributes to safer outcomes for some nan animal and nan rescuer. Spain’s wildlife is 1 of its top treasures, and pinch a small mentation and care, encounters pinch Ibex, owls, turtles, dolphins, aliases moreover ample animals for illustration cervid aliases boar tin stay moments of wonderment alternatively than regret.