Wildlife
Wildlife
Wildlife
The number of wildlife presented to the RSPCA has significantly increased since 1998/99 (8,310 animals in 1998/99 to 25,568 animals in 2015/16).
Usually, wildlife (native and introduced) is presented to the RSPCA by members of the community and private veterinary clinics because they have been injured or orphaned. RSPCA ACT and RSPCA QLD operate specialist wildlife clinics and receive, treat, rehabilitate and re-release wildlife.
In 2015-16, the RSPCA re-released 13.1% (3,347) of wildlife received1 following treatment and rehabilitation and transferred 6,824 (26.7%) to specialist groups or other non-RSPCA facilities. Unfortunately, many of the injuries can cause significant pain and suffering and/or compromise survival in the wild and the RSPCA plays an important role relieving this suffering through humane euthanasia. In 2015-16, 52.8% of all wildlife received was humanely euthanased (see figure 10).
1 Received refers to all animals in RSPCA facilities during the 2015-2016 financial year.
