Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden (KFBG) will open its Wild Animal Rescue Centre to the public for the first time in three decades on November 29 and 30, to raise public awareness and trust in licensed wildlife rehabilitators' work.
As Hong Kong's only licensed privately-run organization for wildlife rescue and rehabilitation, the center was established in 1994 and rescues an average of about 4,000 animals each year.
Some animals, such as bats, owls, snakes, and lizards, are sent by the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) to the center for treatment after being discovered injured by citizens.
The center also accepts some high-conservation-value species that have been illegally trafficked and confiscated by law enforcement agencies.
About 80 percent of the animals received by the center are released back into their natural habitat, while the remainder, which are severely injured or have become too accustomed to human contact, are retained within the facility.
Among the more than 2,700 animals received from January to September this year, over 70 percent were wild birds, including spotted doves.
Bibi Wan, KFBG's senior wildlife rehabilitation officer, stated that the center frequently receives fledgling birds during spring and summer, which are breeding seasons, as most birds adapt to urban environments and breed in urban areas.
It is common for fledglings to be attacked by cats or other predators, while some citizens mistakenly believe that the birds have been abandoned and bring them to the center.
Wan said that the center will assist in reuniting them with their parents during the critical period when a fallen nest is brought to the center, and provide appropriate training before releasing them back into the wild.
Another staff member from KFBG added that a large number of the animals received severe injuries, with only a small number surviving, resulting in the number of animals received far exceeding those that can be successfully placed in long-term care.
During the public opening of the center, KFBG will hold workshops to allow the public to visit the center and learn about the frontline rescue and rehabilitation work of veterinarians.
Interested individuals can register on the KFBG's website. Each session has 20 slots available on a first-come, first-served basis, with a fee of HK$100 per person.
