Rescue centres need your help more than ever

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Wildlife

Rescue centres need your help more than ever

22 April 2020
Eurogroup for Animals
News
The spread of COVID-19 is a threat to the survival of thousands of animals in European rescue centres and sanctuaries. Eurogroup for Animals calls on the generosity of citizens to help them to get through the crisis

Rescue facilities in Europe operate mainly thanks to the generosity of private donors and, in some cases, tickets sold to visitors. However, with the COVID-19 restrictions adopted in locked down European countries, visitors aren’t coming anymore. 

Rescue centres and sanctuaries offer a better life to animals that have suffered in substandard zoos, been cruelly exploited in circuses or abandoned by private owners or confiscated from illegal and unscrupulous traders. Many rescue facilities directly participate in the confiscation of the animals and in their subsequent translocation, often across national borders. Once an animal is taken into care by a rescue facility, significant costs are involved, including food, staff, medicine, veterinary care, construction, maintenance and heating. 

The pandemic has only added to an already difficult situation in which housing for seized, confiscated or surrendered wild animals was severely limited, and rescue centres suffered from a chronic lack of consideration and funding. In the longer term, COVID-19’s disruption to countries’ economies and people’s savings could worsen the situation.


 

COVID-19 is representing a real challenge for all rescue centres, but we are doing our best to ensure an optimal management of the animals we host. There’s always a funding issue encountered by rescue centres in Italy, not just now, but because of a major shortage of public financial support from the government. During the COVID-19 crisis, the Government, local authorities and civil society seem committed only to helping circuses and zoos - those who exploit and profit from animals. 

Andrea Casini from Eurogroup for Animals’ member organisation LAV, which manages the Semproniano CRASE (Centro Recupero Animali Selvatici ed Esotici) in Tuscany

Eurogroup for Animals and its Member Organisations that carry out rescue activities are joining forces with EARS, the European Alliance of Rescue Centres and Sanctuaries, to call on the support of citizens. 

Here you'll find a list of organisations or rescue centres in your country that you can contact to see how you can help. 

These animals have been through enough already. Please help them to get through the COVID-19 crisis.