Fundraiser for a Protective Fence at the Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Center

Over a hundred animals are currently recovering at the Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Center in the Poltava Region. Storks, owls, swans, squirrels, hedgehogs, hares, ducks, and many others are being treated, fed, and prepared to return to life in the wild. Some were trapped or caught under fire, others were hit by cars; some had been kept “for entertainment,” while others were orphaned because of the war. Here are just a few of their stories.

Sasha the swan was found on the roadside with injured wings, while four cygnets clung to him. People brought the family to the Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Center in the Poltava Region. Sasha had serious wounds and bite marks, and the mother of the chicks was never found. His enclosure was placed next to that of Sofiya, another swan who had been brought to the Center for treatment by the soldiers. One night, Sasha broke through the partition, carried his chicks to Sofiya, and entrusted them to her. She accepted the little ones and, according to the staff, hasn’t left his side since.

Now, Sasha’s wounds have healed, and the chicks are growing stronger each day under the care of their devoted parents.

In the middle of a street in Poltava, people found six tiny hedgehogs. They were snorting loudly, searching for their mother — who had likely met some misfortune. The little ones arrived at the Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Center exhausted, weak, and very hungry. The staff immediately examined them, prepared a warm nest, and fed them with special milk. Once the hedgehogs grew stronger and learned how to find food on their own, they were released back into the wild.

One day, a wild hamster with an injured hind leg was brought to the Center. Exhausted and frightened, the little animal was given painkillers, antibiotics, food, and placed in a safe nest. 

This was a wild European hamster — a species listed in the Red Book of Ukraine as “vulnerable.” Their numbers are steadily declining due to steppe plowing, pesticide use, and the loss of natural habitats.

The rescue center is located in the city of Horishni Plavni, next to the Forest Lakes reserve, which is home to many wild animals, including predators. Without a fence, weakened or sick animals can escape into the wild and risk dying or spreading disease, at the same time wild animals can enter the Center’s territory, injure residents, or bring illnesses. 

To prevent these risks, a fence needs to be built along the border with the reserve. It will protect over a hundred animals currently undergoing rehabilitation and allow the Center to accept new residents in need of help.

We are collecting 120,342 UAH (~$2,912) to build a protective fence. Here’s how the funds will be used:

• Clear the grass on the site
• Dig holes for the posts
• Pour a concrete foundation
• Install metal posts and 2.2-meter-high mesh panels
• Build gates and a concrete walkway along the fence

By contributing a comfortable amount to this fundraiser, you can help keep hundreds of rescued animals safe and give them the chance to return to the wild.