A animal rescue charity is running at full capacity in one of its busiest summer seasons so far.

East Sussex Wildlife Rescue & Ambulance Service (WRAS) is regularly running at 90 to 100% capacity holding up to 250 casualties at a time.   WRAS which is a local award winning charity is working round the clock to take care of sick, injured and orphaned wildlife at its Casualty Centre at Whitesmith in East Sussex.

“Tuesday evening we ended up with all five of our veterinary ambulances on the road at the same time and 11 different volunteer rescuers many using their own cars as we were so inundated with calls for help receiving over 50 calls for help in the evening. I’ve lost count how many we had all day and dare not think about it either!” said WRAS’s Rescue Manager Chris Riddington from Eastbourne.

Rescuer Manager Chris Riddington and Operations Director Trevor Weeks MBE are regularly working over 15 hours a day dealing with rescues and attending to casualties at their Casualty Centre.  The charity is receiving over 250 to 400 calls a week at the moment.

“Yesterday was very manic, we were just going from one job to the next to the next and it seemed like it was never ending, we didn’t even get a chance to stop and have lunch, we had no choice but to eat on the go” said Trevor Weeks from Uckfield.

Tuesday calls included having to rescue two jackdaws which had fallen down chimneys. The first involved having to remove an electric oven from a kitchen and knock a hole in a wall to rescue a fledgling jackdaw from a Chimney in Jevington Gardens Eastbourne. The bird was released out the window to be back with its parents.  The second was to Steamer Trading in Heathfield where an 8ft long and high display unit had to be cleared and moved in order to get to a hidden fire place. The bird was rescued and released into the rear garden to safety.  Rescuers also had to rescue a gannet after multiple calls from the Sovereign Harbour Office and members of the public around the marina, rescuers used long handled nets to reach the bird which was lethargically swimming around the harbour. Other calls included a young hypothermic pigeon which had fallen 6 floors from some flats in Gloucester Court, Eastbourne which was barely lively which needed emergency first aid and care.  A gull in Ashgate road which a badly damaged shoulder which is suspected of being shot.

Rescuer Laura Carrick from Eastbourne rushed to Seaford to deal with a Crow handed in at the vets and a jackdaw that had fallen from a nest. Rescuer Tony Neads from Polegate dealt with an injured jackdaw and two gull chicks that were washed from their roofs by the torrential rain. Tony also rushed to Seaford for an injured gull with fishing line stuck in its throat which was luckily returned home after having it removed.

Rescuers Dave and Sarah Earl of Eastboune, have dealt with a gull chick fallen from a nest in Eastbourne as well as another jackdaw.

Rescuer Kathy Martyn of Uckfield went to a jackdaw in Uckfield that was chased by cats and thought to be injured. The callers managed to catch the bird and place out of harms way on an extension roof. When Kathy arrived it flew off.

Rescuer Dave Novell from Newhaven brought in a catted sparrow from Newhaven.  Rescuers Mitch Sasse and Katie Nunn-Nash based at our Casualty Centre last night, rushed to a Robin in Uckfield which was possible hit by a car,  a jackdaw in Halland with a broken leg which had to be splinted and a catted sparrow in Ringmer. Rescuers Andrew Loftus and Charlotte Humphreys from Eastbourne also rushed to a fox with open wounds in Eastbourne that was found to be suffering from mange. There were also calls to a hedgehog out during the day in Delves Close Ringmer, and WRAS also admitted a woodpecker and took a fox cub into Cliffe Vets in Lewes for an operation.

Wednesday saw WRAS have to rescue another Jackdaw in a chimney at Rushlake Green, gull chick in Jevington Gardens Eastbourne, an injured Crow at Ditchling, a duckling down a drain in Eastbourne, a gull chick in Hailsham, two gull chicks in Meads Eastbourne, a call to a duck at Hampden Park with a limp and a major rescue of a juvenile swan at Piltdown Pond near Uckfield with a huge fishing hook caught through the beak. Rescuers Daryl Farmer, Chris Riddington, Kai Ahmed, Tony Neads and Trevor Weeks using two inflatable boats and dry suits managed to catch the swan. The swan was treated and the hook removed at the scene before the swan was returned to the pond and allowed to flap off.

East Sussex WRAS’s rescuers are volunteers and currently working extremely hard to help thousands of wild animals and birds across the county. “We have had to point some people in the direction of other organisations and ask them to look at other possibilities as we have been so busy.  Millions of wild animals and birds are being put to sleep across the country due to there not being enough organisations like WRAS around.  WRAS needs as much help as possible and is asking people to consider taking out standing orders for as little as £1 a month to help them plan and budget and help with long term expansion plans so they can continue to increase the number of casualties they can look after.

More details can be found at www.wildlifeambulance.org

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Pictures and Video:

Heathfield Jackdaw Chimney Rescue - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSOQGGnGjTc&feature=youtu.be

Swan Rescued at Piltdown Pond – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dda79W14RfI

Jack Rescued from Chimney in Eastbourne – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pq67trRtIlU&feature=youtu.be

VIDEO: Videos can be used free of charge by local media. Video property of East Sussex WRAS, If you wish to use the video please ensure East Sussex WRAS is credited and mentioned clearly in the article. Please consider making a donation to East Sussex WRAS for use of the video – invoices can be provided on request.  For any other use please contact WRAS on 01825-873003 or trevor@eastsussexwras.org.uk.

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