Wildlife Hospital getting ready to welcome first patients

Meath is fast becoming a centre for the wildlife world as not far from Randal Plunkett's nature reserve at Dunsany, another initiative has emerged at Garlow Cross.

Wildlife Rehabilitation Ireland plans to open Ireland's first dedicated wildlife hospital later this month beside the Tara na Rí pub, outside Navan.

"In 2020 as a result of Covid, we all experienced a new way of living. Lockdown meant we were out in nature more and noticing the animals around us," explains Aoife McPartlin of WRI. Licensed rehabilitators around the country were reporting a significant increase in demand for the rehabilitation of hedgehogs, pigeons, foxes, buzzards and many other species.

"Rehabilitators are doing amazing work but the increase in reported injuries to wildlife means they are under severe pressure for space and funding, so we had to set up an emergency interim hospital to help alleviate that pressure", Aoife adds.

This is part of a bigger plan to build a wildlife and teaching hospital with a visitor centre but for now the new emergency hospital will be situated behind the Tara na Ri Pub at Garlow Cross which includes a spacious fully furnished three-bedroom apartment to house volunteers. It will be manned by a hospital manager, animal manager and volunteers and will be funded by donations. It is not species specific and will cater for all wildlife. WRI are extremely grateful to site owner John McCarthy who has been hugely supportive of this much needed initiative.

"We are so excited to get this project started and are lucky to have such wonderful volunteers working very hard to get it ready to receive the first patients," said Aoife.

WRI is appealing for help from tradesmen and building material suppliers in transforming the outside stables and grounds for use. If you can help, please contact office@wri.ie.

Wildlife Rehabilitation Ireland