Vision
We envision a world where people recognise both the intrinsic value of wildlife and that protecting biodiversity is fundamental to life on earth
Mission
Our mission is to promote and advance wildlife rehabilitation, welfare and protection
Aims
Where we came from
The wildlife situation in Ireland is unusual and unfortunate in so far as there is no single organisation representing all types of wildlife rescue and rehabilitation. There are various individuals and a few organisations around the country that either rescue specific species or rehabilitate whatever casualties come their way. These individuals receive no financial support and had no support network among themselves.
There was therefore a great need and opportunity to develop a more coordinated approach to, and a higher profile for wildlife and wildlife rehabilitation in Ireland. Wildlife Rehabilitation Ireland (WRI) was established to do just this.
Support
WRI is a member of the Irish Environmental Network (IEN) and through the IEN receives core funding from the Department of Communication Climate Action and Environment.
Wildlife Rehabilitation Ireland in a non governmental organisation, a company limited by guarantee not having a share capital. Registered in Dublin, Ireland. Office: 10 High Meadows, Duleek, Co Meath. Company No. 555237 | Chy No. 20991 | Registered Charity No. 20142551
Wildlife Rehabilitation Ireland (WRI) is a pioneering organisation dedicated to the advocacy, education, and support of wildlife rehabilitation efforts across Ireland. We work with a network of veterinary and wildlife professionals, and rehabilitation centres to offer support and training to ensure that injured, sick, and orphaned wildlife receive the high quality of specialist care they deserve. Our mission is rooted in a deep respect for nature and a commitment to the conservation of Ireland’s diverse wildlife species.
WRI is focused on promoting the welfare and conservation of wildlife through rehabilitation, education, and advocacy. We work towards creating a future where humans and wildlife coexist in harmony, and where every injured or orphaned wild animal has access to high-quality care and rehabilitation.
What We Do
Get Involved
There are many ways to support WRI and contribute to wildlife conservation in Ireland. Volunteers, donations, and public engagement are crucial to our operations and help us continue our work. Whether you’re interested in becoming a wildlife rehabilitator, supporting our educational initiatives, or helping spread awareness about wildlife conservation, your involvement can make a significant difference.
Join Our Mission
Become a part of our community dedicated to the welfare and conservation of Ireland’s wildlife. Together, we can ensure a brighter, more sustainable future for all species that call our island home. Join our mailing list to find out what we’re up to and how to get involved.
Wildlife Rehabilitation Ireland (WRI) has made significant strides in wildlife conservation, education, and advocacy. While specific achievements can vary over time, some notable accomplishments are listed below. Others are elaborated on in our Annual Reports.
Wildlife Rehabilitation Ireland – Main site
WRI has developed this website to provide the public with a ‘one stop site’ for the support and protection of Irelands native wildlife.
Irish Wildlife Matters – Rehabilitation site
WRI produced the wildlife first aid website Irish Wildlife Matters www.irishwildlifematters.ie launched in May 2010, to address the lack of easily accessible information on Irish wildlife rescue and first aid. IWM provides an online overview of rescue methods, medical treatment, rehabilitation and release procedures for the most commonly seen species of Irish wildlife casualties. The website can be accessed at .
Irish Wildlife Crime – Information site
This site, Irish Wildlife Crime offers basic information on wildlife crime, advice on Recognising & Recording a wildlife crime and contact details for Reporting a wildlife crime. Here you can download the PAW App. WRI is an active member of PAW – Partnership for Action Against Wildlife Crime.
Irish Wildlife Rehabilitation Conferences
In 2010 WRI ran the first Wildlife Rehabilitation Conference in Ireland, bringing together speakers from countries more advanced in wildlife management for talks and practical sessions. The conference generated huge interest and positive feedback. Following the success of the 2010 event, WRI hosted further conferences all of which are documented in the Conference Archive on this site.
Irish Wildlife Crime Conferences
The inaugural 2013 Wildlife Crime Conference was convened to discuss wildlife crime in a comprehensive all-island context and proved to be a historic milestone in Irish wildlife protection. It created a unique opportunity for government agencies, NGOs, professional bodies, voluntary groups and individuals to share experience and expertise. The charity went on to host five more crime and conservation conferences, the most recent in 2024. Go to the Conference Archive to read the detail.
IWRC’s ‘Basic Wildlife Rehabilitation Course’
The International Wildlife Rehabilitation Council (IWRC) is a leading developer of professional training for wildlife care providers internationally. In 2011 the IWRC teamed up with WRI to provide Irish participants with access to the Basic Wildlife Rehabilitation Course, focusing on the theory and practice of wildlife rehabilitation. The course was so successful that WRI, with IWRC’s assistance, now runs these courses regularly in Ireland.
Wild Schools Resource
Wild Schools, a collaboration between WRI, education experts and graphic designers, provides tips and activities to help second level students learn about wildlife, habitats, human–wildlife conflict and conservation through quizzes, audio-visuals and projects. It is now available on www.scoilnet.ie.
Post-release Monitoring – Rehabilitated Pine Martens
In June 2012 WRI carried out Ireland’s first post-release monitoring project using radio telemetry to track two rehabilitated pine martens. The project provided valuable data on post-release survival and generated significant media interest.
Otter rehabilitation and release project
In autumn 2012 WRI facilitated the return and soft release of an Irish otter rehabilitated in Scotland at the International Otter Survival Fund (IOSF) facilities on the Isle of Skye. The orphaned cub from Co Donegal was successfully released in a remote location in Glenveagh National Park thanks to coordinated efforts in both Ireland and Scotland.
Post-release Monitoring – Swan ringing project
Inspired by WRI’s Wildlife Rehabilitation Conferences, wildlife rehabilitator Dan in Co Kildare approached WRI for support with a swan ringing project. Working with BirdWatch Ireland, swans rehabilitated at his facility are tagged before release, allowing local ornithologists to report sightings and build a clearer picture of post-release outcomes.
Data Collection – Wildlife Health Survey (vets)
In 2013 WRI carried out the first Irish Wildlife Health Survey with the help of veterinary practices throughout Ireland. The survey contributed to research into wildlife health and emerging infectious diseases, and its findings were published in the Veterinary Ireland Journal in June 2014.
Data Collection – Wildlife Casualty Survey (rehabilitators)
Also in 2013, WRI conducted the first nationwide survey of wildlife rehabilitators, documenting the number of casualties admitted, the conditions they presented with, and case outcomes. Combined with the Wildlife Health Survey, this provided the first detailed national picture of wildlife casualties in Ireland and contributed to discussions with NPWS on a pilot ‘Annual Rehabilitation Licence’ project.
Wildlife inclusion in the veterinary curriculum
In October 2015 WRI delivered a teaching session on wildlife rescue and first aid to sixty veterinary students at University College Dublin. It was the first time wildlife featured as an option in the veterinary curriculum at UCD and it is now set to become a regular part of the exotics elective. As of 2025, this course is run twice a year and has supported many veterinary professional who wish to undersand and work with wildlife patients.
Biodiversity is an integral part of human wellbeing and physical health. By removing species’ habitats or exploiting natural resources, humans create more situations for incidental wildlife interactions as society pushes further into natural environments. The food we grow, the landscapes we love and the air we breathe all depend on biodiversity.
The concept of One Health is the unity of multiple practices that work together locally, nationally, and globally to help achieve optimal health for people, animals, and the environment.
At WRI our aim is to make wildlife healthy. Wildlife rehabilitation supports the One Health initiative by contributing to the health and balance of ecosystems, which benefits all species, including humans, and underscores the interdependence of our health on the health of the wildlife and environments we share.
Wildlife Rehabilitation & Teaching Hospital & Nature Education Centre
The majority of people are unaware that there is no national organisation in Ireland with responsibility for the rescue and rehabilitation of wildlife. Current provision is met by a small number of individuals and organisations in the voluntary sector that rescue/rehabilitate wildlife casualties. However, they are under resourced in terms of money, facilities and veterinary support and information sharing/networking has been poor.
Many other countries have a nationally coordinated approach to wildlife management and have an organisation that acts to provide this coordination. Wildlife Rehabilitation Ireland (WRI) was established in 2010, with the aim of working for the general advancement of wildlife protection and rehabilitation in Ireland and to provide a hub to coordinate communication expertise and share expertise within the wildlife protection and conservation sector.
As the public profile of wildlife rescue and rehabilitation rises, so too does the number of wildlife casualties brought to small independent wildlife centres. There is now extreme financial pressure on these individuals given increased demands on increasingly inadequate resources. In addition, there are countless valuable research and educational opportunities being missed due to lack of resources.
The combination of circumstances demands the establishment of a self-sustaining Wildlife Hospital in order to offer Irish wildlife and Irish society the opportunity to mutually benefit from a solution to this currently unsustainable situation.
At the heart of the Wildlife Hospital project is the social enterprise partnership (SEP) theme; the Wildlife Hospital will be run as a SEP, and as such WRI has formed relationships with organisations that empower young people and at-risk groups in society, who could also benefit from the creation of this Hospital and who wish to form a social partnership with WRI.
WRI believes that social partnership is an extremely valuable aspect to this project and will be extremely rewarding for all participating organisations; volunteering with animals in a natural setting has been proven to significantly promote social, economic, psychological, spiritual and physical wellbeing. This project, the first of its kind in the Republic of Ireland, will offer these young people the opportunity to care for injured animals in return for their own educational advancement and personal development.
The new Wildlife Hospital will:
WRI built and operated an emergency interim Wildlife Hospital for 10 months in 2021 but is currently seeking a permanent home for this exciting, new and innovative facility.
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