Data collection is essential — it provides the insights needed to make informed decisions, assess performance, and plan effectively for wildlife health and biodiversity protection.
WRI conducts surveys amongst the veterinary profession and wildlife rehabilitators in order to collect data on wildlife casualties found in Ireland.
Hopefully an increased awareness of Ireland’s biodiversity and the hazards faced by our native wildlife will in turn increase people’s awareness of the value of these animals and the need to protect them and their habitats.
Survey questions generally include; species found, numbers of casualties, common presenting conditions, treatment / outcome etc. We collate and publish the data here [survey respondent’s details are kept private]
2023
In 2023 WRI carried out another Wildlife Health Survey of Irish veterinary professionals. The survey is still open so if you’re a veterinary clinic that hasn’t filled it in already please do click on the link below:
2013
In 2013 WRI carried out our first Irish Wildlife Health Survey of veterinary professionals.
This survey is a part of ongoing research into wildlife health in conjunction with academic institutions and voluntary organisations. The survey has provided significant data which has allowed for a better picture of diseases and injuries in wildlife, and the number of wildlife casualties being brought into veterinary clinics in Ireland.
Click Here to read the 2013/4 report published in the Veterinary Ireland Journal
Only by collecting this information can we enable investigations into the causes of the hazards/conditions and take preventative measures to reduce their occurrence in future.
Examples of research utilising this data:
Collecting biodiversity data is essential for understanding how Ireland’s wildlife is changing over time. Accurate information on species presence, distribution, and health allows conservation organisations, researchers, and government agencies to identify threats early, monitor long-term trends, and make informed decisions that protect vulnerable species and habitats.
In Ireland, biodiversity data is gathered by a combination of:
The National Biodiversity Data Centre, which leads national recording efforts and manages Ireland’s biodiversity database.
Environmental NGOs and research bodies, who monitor priority species and ecosystems.
Wildlife Rehabilitation Ireland and partner organisations, who contribute expertise and field knowledge.
Citizen scientists, whose local observations form a vital part of national biodiversity monitoring.
Citizen science plays an especially important role. Everyday wildlife sightings — from garden birds to marine mammals — help fill knowledge gaps that professional surveys alone cannot achieve. These public contributions allow experts to track changes in species ranges, detect declines, map invasive species, and better understand how climate change is affecting Ireland’s wildlife.
Anyone can get involved by recording wildlife sightings and submitting them to the National Biodiversity Data Centre, ensuring that real-time data supports conservation planning and action across the country.
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