PETE WEDDERBURN Animal Doctor

the contacts page enables you to find a rehabilitator or vet near you for advice or assistance..

WRI has also organised regular wildlife conferences which are recognised at Veterinary CPD level, offering a showcase for research and education about wildlife care, and they offer specialist Wildlife Rehabilitation Courses concentrating on the theory and practice of wildlife rehabilitation and to help people learn more about taking their interest further. WRI Instructors are now recognised as leaders in their chosen field, being asked to lecture to vet students as part of the veterinary course at UCD.

The long term aim of Wildlife Rehabilitation Ireland is to set up a self-sustaining National Wildlife Rehabilitation and Teaching Hospital.

The new Wildlife Hospital will have the facility, expertise and capacity to care for and rehabilitate all native wildlife species, as well as a visitor and education centre with shop, exhibition area, library, offices, store room, lab, classroom and conference rooms. There will be paid staff to look after the hospital and animals, and they’ll also provide on-site education and training for anyone interested in learning more.

There will also be a strong role for volunteers to help out, in the same way as volunteers have always helped at Dublin Zoo. WRI believes that social partnership is the key to this project’s financial viability, and is proposing a social enterprise partnership (SEP) project in a joint venture with an organisation that provides for the needs of disadvantaged groups in society.

This SEP project, the first of its kind in the Republic of Ireland, will offer disadvantaged groups the opportunity to care for injured animals in return for their own educational advancement and personal development. The new wildlife care facility would have the potential to become a major addition to the tourist attractions of the East coast of Ireland.

A serious level of fund-raising is needed to get this project off the ground, but the volunteers are committed to their ideal , and I have no doubt that they will reach their goal. I am hopeful that within a decade, when I have a sick wild animal that needs ongoing care, I will be able to send them in their comfortable carrier cage to this new and exciting centre of excellence.

Visit www.wri.ie to find out more