A review of RSPCA research into wildlife rehabilitation

Abstract

Wildlife rehabilitation is defined as 'the treatment and temporary care of injured, diseased, and displaced indigenous animals, and the subsequent release of healthy animals to appropriate habitats in the wild' (Miller 2012). Vets are frequently presented with wildlife casualties and although there are a number of texts available to help vets with the treatment of wild animals, such as the BSAVA Manual of Wildlife Casualties (Mullineaux and others 2003) and papers produced by experienced wildlife vets (eg, Bexton and Couper 2010, Couper and Bexton 2012), there still remains questions regarding which individual animals can, or should, be treated, which animals will survive treatment and which animals will survive after they have been released back to the wild. The RSPCA believes that the welfare of wildlife casualties can be improved by investigating which injuries or illnesses are most likely to result in a successful release for each species, and by collecting data on postrelease survivorship. As a result, there have been a number of papers published based on the work of the RSPCA's four wildlife centres: East Winch in Norfolk, Mallydams Wood in East Sussex, Stapeley Grange in Cheshire and West Hatch in Somerset. This paper summarises this research, to guide those in the profession with an interest in this subject to papers that may prove useful to them.

Morbidity, outcomes and cost-benefit analysis of wildlife rehabilitation in Catalonia (Spain)

“…Although there are many morbidity studies in wildlife [5,6,7,8], most of them are restricted to specific zoological categories, and studies covering a wide variety of animal species or covering long periods of time are still scarce [9,10,11]. Moreover, reviews of wildlife casualties providing objective criteria about cost-benefit of the casualties’ treatments are also poorly reported in the literature [12,13]. …”

Chlamydiaceae in North Atlantic Seabirds Admitted to a Wildlife Rescue Center in Western France

“…Although raptors (i.e., Falconiformes and Strigiformes) and birds from the orders Columbiformes or Passeriformes are the main bird species admitted in WRCs in Europe (25,(34)(35)(36)(37), seabirds (i.e., bird species with a life history linked to the marine environment) from the Anseriformes, Charadriiformes, Procellariformes, and Suliformes can also be taken into care, for instance, in connection with oil spills. In such disaster situations, seabirds can be admitted by hundreds or thousands (38)(39)(40), leading to overcrowding, close contact with the veterinary and/or nursing staff and an elevated risk of stressinduced chlamydial shedding.…”

PRESENTATION AND PROGNOSTIC INDICATORS FOR FREE-LIVING BLACK COCKATOOS (CALYPTORHYNCHUSSPP.) ADMITTED TO AN AUSTRALIAN ZOO VETERINARY HOSPITAL OVER 10 YEARS

“…Since the beginning of the program, the PZVH veterinary staff has developed an effective assessment and treatment protocol for these endangered birds. However, there is considerable expense inherent in the treatment and care of wild birds which needs to be justified, including the costs associated with labor, medication, and surgical and diagnostic equipment (Grogan and Kelly 2013). Further, the decision to hospitalize and treat a wild bird must take into account its longterm likelihood of survival in the wild, balanced against the level of potentially significant stress and pain that may be experienced by the bird during hospitalization, treatment, and subsequent release (Kirkwood and Sainsbury 1996).…”