New guide for helpless wild animals: How to act correctly!

New guide for helpless wild animals: How to act correctly!

It happens again and again that we come across injured or helpless wild animals. What should you do if you find such an animal? There is now a new guideline for this that has been created by the district animal protection advisory board of the Darmstadt-Dieburg district. [rheinmainverlag] reports that this guide is now available on the district's website under "Information from the District Animal Protection Advisory Board". The aim is to give citizens concrete instructions on how to act correctly in an emergency and help the animals.

The new guide not only offers practical advice and clarifies legal questions about helping wild animals, but also contains the contact details of recognized rescue centers and specialist agencies. Lutz Köhler, the first district councilor, emphasizes the importance of acting correctly. “Wrong actions can cause great harm,” he says, noting that quick, informed decisions are important to give animals a chance to heal. Dr. Christa Wilczek, district animal protection officer and co-author of the guide, adds that wild animals deserve a chance if people do the right thing at the right time.

Important legal principles

But what is the legal situation if you encounter an injured wild animal? According to the [wildtierschutz-deutschland], it is permissible under the Federal Nature Conservation Act to take in these animals in order to care for them back to health. However, certain requirements should be observed - these include that any discovery should be reported immediately to the nearest police station. It is also important to know that animals must be released into the wild immediately as soon as they can keep themselves. In the case of injured wild animals that are subject to hunting law, the consent of the person authorized to hunt or the territory owner is also required.

In any case, you should check the individual situation of the animal. You should be careful with seemingly abandoned young animals, as they are often not in danger and should be left alone. A classic example are brown hares, which are often only visited by their mother once a day. Patience is required here to avoid the animals being picked up and the mother no longer accepting them.

The pressure on wild animals is growing

The challenges facing wildlife are increasing not only due to climate change, but also due to the growing population and the associated pressure on natural resources. [tierimrecht] emphasizes that habitats are increasingly being reduced due to human activities, such as the conversion of rainforests into palm plantations. This is leading to more and more conflicts between humans and wildlife, especially in rural areas.

The District Animal Protection Advisory Board's guide is a step in the right direction to give citizens the opportunity to act correctly while at the same time offering wild animals a chance to survive. In the coming weeks, the advisory board also plans to publish further species-specific information sheets with practical tips.

If you would like to find out more about helping injured wild animals, you can find the action guide and further information on the district's official website at ladadi.de.