Vale Wildlife Hospital & Rehabilitation Centre is a registered charity that was established in 1984 to facilitate the rescue, rehabilitation and release of sick, injured and orphaned British wildlife. This service is available to all, free of charge, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Over the years Vale Wildlife has grown from being a small rescue centre serving Gloucestershire & Worcestershire to become an internationally respected, award winning wildlife hospital. In 2018 we treated over 6000 casualties, both as in-patients at the hospital, as well as those treated out ‘in the field’. We treat all British wildlife including deer, badgers, foxes and hedgehogs, and all bird species from swans to sparrows. We also provide telephone advice for countless enquiries that we receive daily from both the UK and overseas.
Otter populations in the UK have experienced something of a resurgence since being decimated by river pollution in the 1970’s. This has meant that Vale Wildlife Hospital is now regularly admitting otters of all ages, including youngsters requiring hand rearing. Otter rehabilitation is a long process, (minimum 12 months) and requires specialist facilities which reduce the risk of imprinting, thereby ensuring the best start to their young lives. We are currently lacking such facilities, so we must transport any otters that are admitted to Vale, to other centres around the UK that are able to provide appropriate accommodation.
The hospital’s day-to-day running costs of £40,000 per month make fundraising for any additional projects an almost impossible challenge.
If Vale Wildlife Hospital is fortunate enough to win the grant we would use it to improve our facilities for otter rehabilitation, namely the provision of secluded accommodation with a large pool and secure perimeter. This will enable us to rehabilitate otters ourselves rather than having to transport them to other centres around the UK, consequently improving animal welfare standards, and having a positive impact on Gloucestershire’s otter population by allowing otters that are born locally to be released locally.
For more information please visit http://www.valewildlife.org.uk/
