Hospitalisation and Nursing of Reptiles, Birds, Fish and Invertebrates Flashcards
(287 cards)
what is the name of the organisation which is involved with the rescue and rehabilitation of wildlife?
British wildlife rehabilitation council
what are the 3 S’s of wildlife rescue?
sure
safety
stress
what is the Sure part of the 3 S’s of wildlife rescue?
be sure that you are able to safely catch and provide some sort of care for the animal before you catch it
what is the Safety part of the 3 S’s of wildlife rescue?
personal safety comes before the rescue of any wild animal
what is the Stress part of the 3 S’s of wildlife rescue?
minimising stress to the animal to maximise chance of survival
how can stress levels of an injured wild animal be reduced?
keep warm
dark area
quiet conditions
minimum human contact
what are the main objectives with wildlife rehabilitation?
alleviate pain and suffering
restore animal to a state where it is able to return to the wild and survive wherever possible
reduce the impact of man made hazards which cause wildlife casualties
species conservation
what does the abandonment of animals act state about release of wild animals?
it is an offense to release an animal into the wild if it doesn’t have a reasonable chance of survival
what is involved in the decision to treat or euthanase wildlife?
balance stress of treatment against chance of successful return to the wild
unethical to release animals with the potential for future complications (e.g. orthopedic implants)
who may be able to help with release of wild animals?
experienced rehabilitator used if kept over 24hrs
some species need release by a licensed person (e.g. barn owls)
are survival rates of released wildlife good?
no - use experienced rehabilitator
what are the benefits of permanent captivity for injured wildlife?
imprinted or disabled but otherwise healthy animal is not killed
opportunities for captive breeding in a registered programme may be useful with rare species
what are the disadvantages of permanent captivity for injured wildlife?
quality of life is debatable - humans anthropomorphize but it is hard to tell if animals are truly happy
public display of animals to fund-raise can cause stress
what are the benefits of euthanasia of a wild animal that is not well enough to be re-released?
wild animal not subject to further stress of captivity
what are the disadvantages of euthanasia of a wild animal that is not well enough to be re-released?
can be viewed negatively by the public - particularly those who bring animals in to the practice
what is the balance between in wildlife nursing?
appropriate treatment and reduction of suffering
what are the common species of wildlife seen in practice?
birds hedgehogs bats foxes badgers deer
what is involved in most treatment of wild birds that are brought into practice?
fracture or injury repair
most practices offer first aid and then move on to specialist centre
what injuries are most commonly seen in hedgehogs that are brought into practice?
dental disease fractures mites ringworm lungworm
why must you be cautious when handling bats?
possible zoonotic diseases (rabies)
what issues are often seen with bats in practice?
fractures
wing membrane damage
what must you be cautious of if dealing with foxes or badgers in practice?
predators and have strong bite
what is the usual prognosis for deer who have been in an RTA?
poor - even if they survive collision they are likely to suffer from myopathy due to muscle compression
what is crucial for healthy fish?
water quality