West Hatch rescues

West Hatch Wildlife Centre rescues and rehabilitates all kinds of animals, from larger mammals, like the seal in our case study, to the hundreds of small birds featured in our rescue stories below.

Blown off course

More than 400 Manx Shearwaters were brought into us at the end of August after they had been blown inland by strong winds as they began their migration to South America.
 

An amazing 93 per cent were rehabilitated and swiftly released back into the wild after staff at the centre joined forces with field staff from around the country to give the seabirds the specialised care they needed.

 

If the birds had not been rescued they were at risk to predators, the weather, shock and hypothermia. Instead the birds were fit and well enough to be released in batches over subsequent days so that they could continue their winter journey.

Lethal diesel spill

Just days later, the centre received a call about 250 birds from a private collection in Port Talbot in Wales which had been rescued by RSPCA inspectors after being covered in diesel oil from a generator.

They were mostly ornamental ducks and some geese and it is believed they were contaminated after thieves tried to steal the diesel.

 

The prognosis was grim due to lethal damage diesel can do but again staff worked through the night to wash and rehabilitate the birds, so that an incredible 85 per cent could be returned to Wales.

 

Peter Venn, manager at West Hatch, said:

To have so many birds come into us in such a precarious state and then released so successfully would have been amazing if it had happened just once.

For two such cases to happen in such quick succession was incredible and I am delighted that the hard work put in by our staff, and that of the many helping hands who came so promptly to help us, paid off.

Manx Shearwaters are not easy to keep in captivity and it was so crucial to get them back out in the wild quickly, so they could continue their migration. I was very concerned about the ducks, as diesel burns very quickly and can have devastating effects.

There were lots of tired faces around the centre, but it was all worthwhile for the sense of achievement of helping so many birds on their way.

Our work with wildlife

Our four wildlife centres release, rehabilitate and care for thousands of animals each year.

Find out how we're helping wildlife.