A heartwarming new wildlife partnership is urgently seeking caring local volunteers across West Yorkshire to help rescue injured and orphaned animals. The RSPCA Stapeley Grange Wildlife Centre and UK Wildlife Transporters have teamed up to support sick and vulnerable wild animals in Leeds, Bradford, and Huddersfield.
The joint project relies on volunteers to safely transport animal casualties from members of the public or local veterinarians to specialist rehabilitation centres. Organisers are looking for kind-hearted individuals who can dedicate some of their spare time to join the team. Every year, thousands of wild animals depend on quick access to veterinary treatment and specialist care to survive. Recent changes and a growing demand for wildlife services mean that extra pairs of hands are now vital to keep these animals safe.
The project will assist a wide variety of creatures, from bats and fox cubs to garden birds and hedgehogs. Local volunteers will receive full training and support, becoming part of the friendly and extended ‘Stapeley Family’. To get involved, volunteers need a passion for animals, their own transport, and a willingness to purchase a couple of animal carriers.
Team Effort for a Stronger Network
Lee Stewart, manager of RSPCA Stapeley Grange Wildlife Centre, said: “This partnership is a hugely important step forward for wildlife rescue across our region. By working together with UK Wildlife Transporters and wildlife-friendly veterinary practices, we can ensure injured wildlife reaches appropriate care more quickly and safely.”
Lee added: “It will reduce the number of animals entering these backyard projects and provide a stronger, more visible wildlife rescue network that ultimately reduces animal suffering.
“Our volunteer wildlife transporters play a vital role in animal welfare, helping to transport mammals such as bats, rodents, fox and badger cubs, to nestlings, fledglings (like the pigeon squab pictured below who was rescued by a member of the public in Halifax recently), gulls, offshore birds, and smaller waterfowl species. By being able to react quickly to an often-changing situation, this timely transport can often mean the difference between life and death for an animal.”
Lee also said: “The work we have done so far with UK Wildlife Transporters has meant we have been able to save the lives of a lot more wild animals. There are areas where we have a concentration of volunteers and others where our numbers are low, so we would really like to recruit more volunteers in the Leeds, Bradford and Huddersfield area.
Call for Local Heroes
“As well as a passion for wildlife, volunteers will need to have their own transport and be prepared to purchase a couple of animal carriers (large and small). We would like to say a huge thank you to Alana Hurd, the founder of UK Wildlife Transporters, their dedicated volunteers, and the veterinary practices already supporting wildlife across our region, as your support makes a real difference every day. We would love more local vets and wildlife lovers to come on board and help us out so together we can ensure injured wildlife receives the help it so desperately needs.”
Alana Hurd, founder of UK Wildlife Transporters, said: “This partnership with RSPCA Stapeley Grange has had an immediate, noticeable impact on wildlife in the areas surrounding the centre. It is helping wildlife on a scale that’s more than I ever hoped for when we started working together, by enabling new ways for these deserving creatures to benefit from expert care, when otherwise they would have missed out.”
The team is also inviting more local veterinary practices to join the network to improve emergency triage for casualties. If you would like to become a volunteer transporter, or if you are a vet wanting to join, you can email alana@ukwildlifetransporters.org to get started. Vets can find more details on the UK Wildlife Transporters website, while extra animal care advice is available on the main RSPCA website.
Location: Nantwich
