Irelands first Wildlife Hospital

Irish Wildlife Rehabilitation and Teaching Hospital

'Thank You For Helping, I am Going Home'


This young buzzard is one of the lucky ones. She was found my schoolchildren in Co Kildare, Ireland. Unable to fly and very confused, she was most likely suffering from poisoning – a common problem for birds of prey that eat rodents poisoned by humans. After weeks of careful care by a local rehabilitator, she was released back, cheered on by enthusiastic school children.

Wildlife rescue work in Ireland is currently carried out by a small number of individual volunteers and groups. They are under resourced in terms of money and facilities, so that they cannot come close to keeping up with the demand – and the wildlife suffers.  Often the rehabilitation faclity amounts to a spare room at home or a space in the garden shed.

We desparetely need a National Wildlife Rehabilitation and Teaching Hospital; to offer Irish wildlife and Irish society the opportunity to mutually benefit; recognising the increasing awarenenss of the benefits to human health and well-being of working and engaging with wildlife.

The good news is that some of the individuals in this sector have joined together, with plans to improve wildlife care in Ireland.  Wildlife Rehabilitation Ireland  was established in 2010, with the aim of supporting wildlife rehabilitators, and working for the general advancement of wildlife protection and rehabilitation in Ireland.  WRI is currently focusing its efforts on setting up a self-sustaining National Wildlife Rehabilitation and Teaching Hospital.

The planned Wildlife Rehabilitation Hospital will have:

·     The facilites, expertise and capacity to care for and rehabilitate all native wildlife species of Ireland;

·     A strong educational element in order to nurture individuals’ respect for wildlife, optimize future employment opportunities;

·     A unique opportunity in Ireland for wildlife Research and Development undertaken by students, researchers, and work experience applicants. A visitor and an education centre with shop, exhibition area, library, offices, store room, lab, classroom and conference room;

·     A social enterprise partnership theme at the heart of the Hospital; volunteering with animals in a natural setting to promote social, economic, psychological, spiritual and physical wellbeing

·     Fully trained, professional staff to look after the hospital, animals and provide on-site education and training, supplemented by International volunteers, interns, externs and social partner clients;

·     Accommodation for up to sixteen volunteers and researchers.

Please help us to build this crucial hospital – Donate to this project today.


Thank you so much for your kindness and care.

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