Spaniards are increasingly respectful of wildlife, according to an international study

The authors analyzed the income of approximately 70,000 birds at wildlife rehabilitation centers in the Community of Valencia over the past 30 years and concluded: The pattern has changed noticeably: from most of the income from natural environments and affiliation with public institutions, coming from urban areas and associated with deliveries from individuals.

In addition, income from intentional causes decreased over time, while income from infrastructure accidents and income from natural causes increased. a) Yes, Income from illegal hunting of raptors fell from 21.7% to 3%. However, raptors were more commonly accepted for intentional reasons than other birds (6.36% vs 1.23%).

On the contrary, Impacts to infrastructures were the main cause of accidental admissions (59.5%), followed by electrocution (14.8%) and flooding (9.6%).. Admissions to the hospital for natural reasons were mostly from orphaned children or malnourished individuals (85%).

Number of admissions orphan birds increased exponentially over the working period. In terms of habitat of origin, bird admissions from urban and rural areas showed a stronger increase over time than those from natural areas.

positive attitude change

Admissions from official sources continued until 2011, but from then on unofficial sources became more frequent; well individual people. In summary, bird admissions that originally came from non-urban areas and were associated with governmental organizations began to come from urban areas associated with informal sources.

The experts who prepared the study claim that these data represent “the undeniable confirmation of the debate.” change in modern Spanish society’s positive attitude towards wildlifeThe data seem to indicate greater empathy towards wildlife in urban areas than in rural areas.

“It is said that over the last six or seventy years people’s attitudes towards wildlife have changed significantly in Spain, as a result of the majority of the population being concentrated in cities,” says research led by Juan Jiménez and researchers. Jorge Crespo (Generalitat Valenciana) and Alejandro Martínez-Abraín (University of La Coruña).

Although there is a marked reversal in the pattern of bird entries, given that entry causes are dynamic on a ten-year scale, the authors speculate that: It will continue to change in the near future “with the evolution of society and the perception that citizens have developed about nature and birds”..

Jiménez, Crespo and Martínez-Abraín consider it “significant” how changes in the reasons for bird entry to wildlife rescue centers are changing around the world.transition from persecution to active protectionnevertheless, with notable geographical differences».

How to behave in front of an injured animal?

SEO/BirdLife will publish a report in the coming weeks on the main causes of unnatural death of birds, based on data from rescue centers across Spain in recent years. In this report, many of the topics of the work carried out in the Community of Valencia are revealed at the national level.

There are more than sixty wildlife rescue centers in Spain. Andalusia is the twelve autonomous communities with the largest number of such centers. There are rescue centers in all autonomous communities and in Ceuta.

Experts recommend always seek professional help when inside an injured animal, contact your nearest wildlife rescue center for instructions on how to behave. They also recommend that you do not touch the animal until you have been instructed on its use.

In case of abandonment of the offspring, it should be taken into account that there are species around the nest where the mother and father feed and care for their young for days.

If there are suspicions that the animal may have been poisoned, nothing should be touched: it could be dangerous and the evidence of a crime could also be distorted.. In this case, it is appropriate to contact the Civil Guard’s Nature Conservation Service (Seprona) by calling 062.

If a GPS is available, the location of the discovery can be marked to transmit precise coordinates to the authorities. According to SEO/BirdLife, the poison could have killed 200,000 animals in Spain in the last 25 years.

Reference report: https://doi.org/10.13157/arla.69.2.22022.sc3

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