Every year, For Wildlife treats more than 10,<> wild animals. Due to the high economic cost of caring for the animals, the organization recently launched a special fundraising campaign so that it can continue its activities for animals in Israel.
Avihu Sherwood, who founded the organization six years ago, told Israel Hayom that it aims to save, treat, rehabilitate and restore wild animals in distress to nature – and that it exists solely thanks to donations and volunteers. "We work to educate, respect and protect nature and animals. We treat animals without regard to their legal status (invasive, harmful, invasive or protected species), with the number of animals coming to us increasing each year. We are no longer a small wildlife rescue clinic, we are a hospital that provides a solution for thousands of wild animals every year, and this hospital, unfortunately, is not funded by any body."
According to him, the organization (where most of the animals cared for are hedgehogs, jackals, common falcons, Israeli gazelles and ibises) simply cannot meet the large financial expenses. "Recently we received more than 330 cattle egrets whose tree they nested upside down, and all the chicks scattered around – some died and some were injured," he said. "The daily cost of keeping a heron is about 10 shekels. Feeding a predatory bird is expensive. Our average monthly expenses are about 72,<> shekels, which go to veterinary workers, professional staff, medicines and food, and that's before rent, bills and other expenses. No body funds us, we live solely on donations from good people and volunteering."
"Every year more and more animals come to us." Sherwood with a fox, photo: Limor Karsenty PR
More than 1,500 different birds, jackal cubs, mammals, mongooses and mammal fox cubs are currently hospitalized at the charity's clinic, where it is estimated that about 5,000 animals will pass through in the next four months. When asked how the public could help the charity, Sherwood said, "People can help with donations, volunteering on a regular basis and of course distributing our content on social media, which helps us with organic exposure and saves us costs of promotion and funding, which are basically the only way we cry out for help and get donations."
To donate to the "For Wildlife Association", click here
Treatment of the hedgehog in the "For Wildlife Association", photo: Matthias Troger
Bat: For Wildlife Association, Photo: Avihu Sherwood
Wrong? We'll fix it! If you find a mistake in the article, please share with us