WILDLIFE CARE BADGE
(MINDSET)
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A SHARED UNDERSTANDING
(THAT ALL WILDLIFE REHABBERS/RESCUERS HAVE IN COMMON)
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1. I understand that a wildlife casualty has been captured and taken from all that it knows: in MOST cases that wildlife casualty doesn’t know that I am trying to help it.
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2. The wildlife casualty has been placed in a cage/crate/enclosure (often against its will) and has lost all Power/Freedom: it cannot stop me holding it, touching it, bathing it or offering it any kind of treatment. I must acknowledge this stressful situation and do all I can to make the rehabilitation experience as easy for the casualty as possible.
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3. The wildlife casualty has no idea (moment to moment) whether it is safe or if I am going to hurt it and it can do nothing to defend itself if it comes under threat: I must acknowledge this stressful situation and do all I can to make the rehabilitation experience as easy for the casualty as possible.
The ONLY justification for capturing/rehabilitating a wildlife casualty (and putting it through this type of stress) is to help it (preventing it from dying very soon/painfully if it is left to fend for itself) and offer it either the best chance at rehabilitation/release or the highest welfare captivity possible (more on that below)...
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THE RULES TO LIVE BY (AS A BASIC SET OF STANDARDS, ALL OF WHICH HAVE BEEN SHAPED IN DETAIL THROUGHOUT THIS POLICY) AS A WILDLIFE RESCUER/REHABBER
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1. I have created a premises (with suitable enclosures) that meets the minimum requirements: the environment is as natural/stress free as possible, allowing as much natural behaviour as possible, meeting a ‘minimum standard’ of access to medical care & treatment with as little suffering caused to the wildlife casualty as possible.
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2. I must ONLY do what is right for the wildlife casualty: I am here FOR them and for their SPECIFIC requirements and I must NOT do anything that is to the detriment of the wildlife casualty.
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3. That wildlife casualty has the right to the VERY BEST life possible: if it cannot be released, it MUST live only within the highest welfare conditions and be moved to a high welfare location if I cannot provide that space. Moreover (putting all of my own emotional desires aside) if it is deemed to be struggling and suffering within captivity (after being given time to adapt) and will 100% not survive in the wild (and will only have a more drawn out death) then euthanasia must be considered as a potential kindness. In short, the wildlife casualty comes first, no matter what.
