Help us SAVE our Wildlife!!

WHO ARE WE?

 

Athena Wildlife Rescue is a grassroots wildlife rescue set up by Lianne in Plymouth 7 years ago. The rescue was opened due to a lack of full wildlife rescues in the area, with no long term entire species rehabilitation centres within Devon or Cornwall.

 

Athena has grown significantly over the years and is relied on by members of the public, rehabbers and rescues across Devon and Cornwall.

 

 

OUR AIM

 

To Rescue, Rehabilitate and Release sick and injured wildlife.

 

 

WHY WE NEED YOUR HELP

 

Sadly, recently we had to close our doors and vacate the land we had been leasing. Due to the landlord not realising he was unable to sublet.

 

This has left the area without a wildlife rescue, with the closest full rehab centre being over one and a half hours away. (few rescues, have the facilities to allow long term rehabilitation)

 

98% of the public will refuse to drive 3hrs to help wildlife, leaving the casualty/orphans with a low chance of survival.

 

No wild animal should suffer, if we can help them.

 

 

WHAT WE DO?

 

When open we take daily admissions. From tiny baby robins, beautiful peregrine falcons, dinky mice, to grumpy gannets.

 

We have the set up, training, experience, knowledge, specialist and veterinary support, to deal with all wildlife. But we are currently mostly needed for birds .. Which is fine by us... we love them!!

 

We actively help educate the public on local wildlife, conservation, ways they can help wildlife , etc

 

Animals reach people in a very unique way. We welcome volunteers and students with various mental health conditions. Everyone thrives in the animal focused environment

 

 

We previously had between 80 to 200 residents at any one time, so we're definitely needed.

 

In 2021, we took over 800 injured and orphaned wildlife, a slight difference from the 20 helped in the first year!

 

 

WHY ARE WE FUNDRAISING?

 

We really need your help please!

 

A generous donor has amazingly offered us an amount to buy a property. We would then fundraise to buy the site from them.

 

Due to the area, the prices are high, and developers are jumping on any sites that would be perfect for us. Insanely we're struggling to find a suitable site for the amount very kindly offered.

 

We have been looking for 5 months, without any luck.

Our donor is aware we're struggling to find anything in the price range, and has suggested it may be impossible, so they may need to start looking to help another worthy cause. Which is completely understandable, but it now means we need to desperately raise our budget!

 

 

WHY IS THIS DESPERATE?

 

Having no other Wildlife rescue in the area, the only advice we can give is to pass wildlife to a local vet. 95% of vet practices are refusing to see/treat wild birds. Some will offer to euthanise them outside (no matter what the injury/illness etc)

More commonly the finders are advised to return the bird to where it was found, where it is most likely going to result in a slow, painful death, due to no treatment.

 

 

Spring is in the air, and the baby season has started . We need to find somewhere and set up as soon as possible, before more wild animal and birds needlessly lose their lives.


WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR 

We need space to have numerous enclosures, a hospital, pools etc. Obviously the bigger the space the more we can help, but it looks like around 1/2 an acre would be the minimum.
We are aiming to get a property with land, enabling a manager to be on site 24/7, taking in emergencies and treating patients throughout the night. 

Alternatively we can look at land with planning permission.
We have found nothing in Plymouth, so we are needing to look further a field. 

Please let us know if you spot any suitable sites.
 

Any help would be massively appreciated.

Please take a look at our fb group