Supporters Help WRAS Invest in Second Anaesthetic Machine, Strengthening Wildlife Welfare Standards in the South East

East Sussex Wildlife Rescue & Ambulance Service (WRAS) has begun 2026 with a significant step forward in wildlife veterinary care, thanks to the generosity of supporters during its Christmas Campaign 2025.

The campaign raised over £6,000, enabling WRAS to purchase a second anaesthetic machine for its veterinary centre — an investment that will directly improve clinical standards, increase treatment capacity, and enhance animal welfare outcomes.

As WRAS enters its 31st year of operation, the charity continues to experience sustained growth in demand, now caring for thousands of casualties each year. With this increasing workload comes a clear responsibility to ensure facilities and equipment continue to evolve in line with modern veterinary standards and best practice.

Founder Trevor Weeks MBE reflected on how far wildlife care has progressed:

“When I first started rescuing wildlife in the late 1980s, care was very basic. Professional treatment for wildlife was difficult to access, facilities were limited, and our understanding of rehabilitation was nowhere near what it is today. Many animals undoubtedly experienced stressful or traumatic recoveries, and some may not have survived post-release due to the lack of appropriate facilities and specialist veterinary support.

Forty years on, the situation is completely different. Advances in veterinary science, welfare knowledge and ethical standards mean wildlife casualties today receive professional, carefully managed treatment with far greater consideration of both their physical and psychological wellbeing. This new equipment is part of that ongoing commitment to doing things properly.”

Anaesthesia is central to modern ethical wildlife rehabilitation. Whether enabling life-saving surgery, facilitating fracture repair, treating wounds, or reducing stress during diagnostic imaging such as X-rays, safe and carefully monitored anaesthesia is essential. Wildlife patients are often highly stressed and physiologically fragile; high-quality anaesthetic equipment significantly reduces risk and improves recovery outcomes.

The new machine, supplied by Burtons Veterinary Equipment, has now been installed at the WRAS veterinary centre and is ready for use ahead of the busy spring and summer season.

Jasmin, Lead Vet at WRAS, commented:

“Thanks to everyone’s donations, we can now provide smoother, safer anaesthetics and increase our ability to treat wildlife during peak season. This will have a direct impact on patient welfare and clinical success.”

Trevor Weeks MBE added:

“Our supporters should feel incredibly proud. This isn’t just new equipment — it represents how far wildlife care has progressed and our commitment to continually raising standards. We want wildlife in East Sussex to receive professional, ethical, evidence-based veterinary treatment comparable to the standards expected in domestic animal medicine.”

This investment demonstrates WRAS’s continued commitment to being a leading provider of ethical, evidence-based wildlife veterinary care in the South East. The charity remains entirely dependent on public donations to fund its rescue and treatment services.

WRAS extends its sincere thanks to every supporter who contributed to the Christmas Appeal. Their generosity is not only funding equipment — it is helping raise the standard of care for wildlife across the region.

To support WRAS or learn more, visit: www.wildlifeambulance.org