A SENIOR vet at Jersey’s only veterinary hospital has appealed for help from Islanders who bring in injured birds and animals for treatment.
Ian Cox from New Era was speaking following an appeal for information about a bat that had been treated at the veterinary hospital in St Saviour.
The dehydrated animal was successfully nursed back to health by staff at New Era, although the release was delayed because it was not known where the bat had been brought in from.
Following an appeal on social media, the bat was able to be released last weekend in the area of La Hougue Bie in Grouville, where it had been found.
Mr Cox said that while members of the public invariably had good intentions when they brought in animals or birds they had found, the hospital’s job was sometimes made harder by a lack of information.
He said: ‘One of the difficulties we often face is when a casualty is just left with us – we’d appeal to anyone who brings in an injured bird or animal to make sure there’s a note with their contact number and details of the location where it was found.
‘Without this information, it’s harder to release the animal after treatment as it may not adjust to an unfamiliar environment and there’s a greater chance that it might pass on disease.’
Mr Cox said that established organisations such as the Jersey Bat Group or British Divers Marine Life Rescue were aware of the best approach when bringing in animals, with problems regarding lack of information most commonly encountered when individuals brought in a casualty.
