Wildlife charity's donation plea as rescues surge

A wildlife rescue charity is appealing for financial donations after seeing an increase in animal drop-offs, but a decline in contributions.

Cleethorpes Wildlife Rescue reported nearly 80% of people who drop off sick or injured wild animals do not donate towards their care.

This marks an increase of about 30% compared to last year.

Aaron Goss, lead rescuer at the charity, described it as "quite a surprising statistic" and said it was a pattern rescue centres across the UK were seeing.

The volunteer-led organisation helps to rehabilitate injured wildlife in North East Lincolnshire and relies solely on donations.

They sometimes tend to over 20 animals a day and had more than 1,000 wildlife casualties last year.

When a member of the public reports an injured bird or mammal they are given the option to donate and 79% of people have declined so far this year, according to the charity.

Mr Goss said: "I do think it is a case that sometimes just actually at the time of finding the animal, it can be hard for people to donate at that time."

He added: "We're always struggling, but we always make it work. If we are at a lower point financially, it does mean that we can't accept as many animals in maybe we could do."

Mr Goss works night shifts at a paid job and volunteers for the wildlife rescue during the day.

When working with the charity, he often carries out rescue missions in the wildlife ambulance - which includes situations like helping a fox cub trapped in netting or tending to a deer that has been hit by a car.

Donations go towards rescuing and feeding animals, as well as paying for their wildlife ambulance and training volunteers.

"So it is really important that if we can get a few more monthly donors, that would be brilliant."

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