Sussex based charity has launched an appeal to help save the lives of injured deer, many of which are attacked by dogs, caught in stock fencing and entangled in netting or rope swings.
If we can't get this hospital off the ground hundreds of deer will die a needless death" said WRAS founder Trevor Weeks.
East Sussex Wildlife Rescue and Ambulance Service (WRAS) is the only 24hr wildlife rescue charity in East Sussex which currently has the ability to provide emergency first aid, treatment and life saving care at the scene of these incidents.
With more and more charities struggling to make ends meet, there is now a desperate need for WRAS to take in more deer. WRAS is unable to currently take in adult deer and only a limited number of baby deer, but hope these new facilities will make that possible.
Currently, East Sussex WRAS, has five baby deer in its care. "Dolly" – baby female fallow - rescued from Rotherfield after being caught in fencing. "Dottie" – baby female fallow – rescued by the RSPCA near Hastings after being hit by a car. "Del Boy" – baby male fallow – rescued at Chelwood Corner after being attacked by two dogs. "Delilah" – baby female fallow – rescued at Horney Common near Maresfield after being caught in stock fencing. "Dave" – baby male fallow – rescued at Duddleswell, after being caught in stock fencing twice (released by the public once and became caught a second time and WRAS called.)
But the hard work pays off. Much to the delight of volunteers at the charity, "Button", a baby deer which was rescued 18 months ago, now in the wild has had a baby of her own! "Button" was seriously ill and even died but was resuscitated by volunteers back in 2009.
Despite the charity's huge efforts to expand (its capacity has almost doubled in the last three years), keeping deer is very expensive and much more room is needed.
Trevor Weeks, founder of East Sussex WRAS said: "All of the baby deer WRAS is currently dealing with are the victims either directly or indirectly of human activity- please help us prevent their suffering and help save their lives.
"Many deer die as a result of being caught in stock fencing and being cut free only to run off and die from their injuries. Invisible ligature wounds start to break down, become infected or the blood flow is compromised and the limb dies or becomes infected, fly strike sets in and the animal suffers from maggot infected wounds and slowly dies.
"Many of these deer could be saved if WRAS had the facilities to take them in, house them, operate on them, treat them, medicate them, feed them and rehabilitate them back to the wild."
WRAS aims to construct several holding sheds and pens as well as a small shed or building which can be used to operate on and treat injured deer - this all costs money and we need your help to raise as much as possible.
Each shed and pen is going to cost approximately £2,500, the operating building is going to cost over £10,000.
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Press Contact: Trevor Weeks, Director, East Sussex WRAS, 07931 523958
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