A LEADING wildlife centre in Lewes has experienced an 18 per cent increase in rescue operations in 2023, totalling 5,989, making it the charity’s busiest year on record.
June 2023 saw East Sussex Wildlife Rescue and Ambulance Service (WRAS) dealt with more than 1,000 casualties for the first time in a single month.
Due to the increase number of patients, this has strained the charity’s resources to the maximum.
East Sussex WRAS has released figures of casualty numbers per council region in 2023.
- Wealden District: 1,698
- Eastbourne Borough: 1,309
- Brighton and Hove City: 950
- Lewes District: 871
- Rother District: 468
- Hastings Borough: 220
- Outside of East Sussex: 83
- Location Unknown: 119
Founder of East Sussex WRAS, Trevor Weeks MBE, said: “At WRAS, we are once again preparing for a rise in casualties during the upcoming months.
“We are already rescuing fledglings being blown out of trees, taking in orphaned fox and badger cubs.
“If casualties continue to rise, as it generally does each year, our already limited resources will face even greater pressure.
“Regrettably, we anticipate similar challenges for 2024 as the cost of living crisis continues.”
More than half of the mammals treated have a “Vulnerable” conservation status, and 52 per cent of the birds are listed as Red or Amber conservation status on the RSPB website, indicating a decline in their populations.
The most common species the charity rescue in 2023 were hedgehogs, foxes, rabbits, house mice and badgers.
With birds they were feral pigeons, wood pigeons, herring gulls, sparrows and blackbirds.
According to research by State of Nature, the UK is among the world’s most nature-depleted countries due to a century of habitat loss, management, changes and development.
This means that nearly one in six wild species are at risk in the UK, with an increasing number of species becoming endangered since 1970.
Mr Weeks added: “The increased development of our countryside, increase in traffic and people using the countryside is causing more wildlife to find themselves coming into conflict with humans.
“Sadly, it is the wildlife which generally comes off worse. They suffer after being shot, run over, entangled in netting, poisoned, attacked, bitten by cats or dogs, as well as getting trapped in man-made structures and traps.
“To maintain the charity’s professional wildlife rescue service, we will need to raise an additional £34,000 to support the extra dedicated staff required for the spring and summer period.
“This includes extended reception coverage for rescue coordination into the evenings, additional hours for our dedicated care team to admit casualties and provide urgent first aid, and increasing our veterinary surgeons’ hours to care for the extra casualties which need their specialist skills.”
“I am reaching out to ask if the people of Sussex could support East Sussex WRAS with a donation of £5 to make a difference for our wildlife this summer.
“Your donation of £5, or more if possible, will contribute to our goal of raising an extra £34,000 to secure sufficient staff and resources for the upcoming spring and summer seasons.”
To support East Sussex WRAS, donations can be send to East Sussex WRAS, PO Box 2148, Seaford, BN25 9DE or can be made by calling 01825-873003 or online at www.wildlifeambulance.org.
