Highest ever number of animals returned to wild
A FOX cub found on a Lanarkshire road was among record numbers of wild animals released back into their natural habitat after being rescued.
The SSPCA returned 4,651 animals to the wild after treatment in 2015, an increase of more than 1,800 in five years.
Utah, a three-weekold fox cub, was found by a member of public on a road in Lanarkshire. It was believed she may have been dropped by her mother accidently while she was moving her.
The orphan was introduced to another fox cub of a similar age which helped her develop the type of behaviour needed to fend for herself in her natural habitat.
Utah was released back into the wild when she was at the right age and stage to survive on her own in the wild.
Carers believe the increase in numbers of wild animals rescued is due to a growing awareness of animals in danger and the creation of a £3.5 million national wildlife rescue centre in Fishcross, Clackmannanshire, funded en- tirely via donations.
Among those recently released were two five-week-old red squirrels found in Blairgowrie, Perth and Kinross.
Named Jar Jar and Binks after the Star Wars character, they were discovered on the ground having likely fallen from their tree nest.
The pair had to be syringe-fed through the night before they were moved to an outdoor enclosure and eventually returned to their natural habitat.
Speaking at the launch of the charity’s annual wildlife week, Fishcross centre manager Colin Seddon said: “Last year we were able to rescue and release more animals back to the wild than ever before. This was a 147% increase on 2010’s figures, which is quite incredible.
“The significant rise is partly due to our relocation in 2012 to our national wildlife rescue centre in Fishcross from our former site in Dunfermline, which was stretched to cope with the volume and diversity of animals we were rescuing.”