Record number of animals rescued

Prague has a lot of green space, and a lot of wild animals. In 2018, people in Prague helped rescue a record 4,712 wild birds and animals so they could get professional care at the city’s Emergency Rescue Station.

These included 141 different species, with birds as the majority. This was an increase from 2017, which saw some 4,134 animals rescued. In 2016 there were 3,707 rescues.

“The annual increase in the number of animals that gets into the hands of the nurses shows that the people of Prague are becoming more conscious and are not indifferent to their surroundings. They are interested in what is happening around them, they are informed and know how to proceed properly when they come into contact with a wounded animal,” Prague Deputy Mayor Petr Hlubuček (United Force for Prague) said.

“Thanks to them, the station managed to rescues more injured or otherwise affected animals each year to save them and return back to nature,” he said.

The most frequent “clients” of the rescue station were injured animals at 38 percent, and orphaned or non-self-sufficient youngsters at 24 percent. Approximately two-thirds of the treated animals were birds. Among the birds there were 526 blackbirds, 435 ducks, 143 magpies, 116 swans and 103 swifts.

There was a significantly higher number of bats last year with 390 bats of 10 species. The most work involved two colonies of common noctule bats, with 272 bats who were treated at the beginning of last year and then successfully released in Prague’s Stromovka park in the spring.

“There are two special vehicles for rescuers to use in the field. The operation is sponsored by the energy and gas companies Pražská energetika and Pražská plynárenská, which is why they deserve thanks for rescuing animals,” Hlubuček said.

The emergency vehicles can be contacted for injured or endangered animals on the phone number 773 772 771. The city rescue station for wildlife is located in Jinonice and is run by the forestry organization Lesy hl. m. Prahy.

Prague has over 200 parks, which provide homes for wildlife. Some 57 percent of the city’s area is green space, according to a 2018 survey. The city has 220.54 square meters of green space per person.

In addition to birds and bats, there are larger mammals such as fallow deer and boars, and around the waterways there are capybara. Squirrels and hedgehogs are also quite common.

People should be cautious approaching larger injured animals, as they can carry disease and also can be aggressive.

Information on the Lesy hl. m. Prahy rescue station (in Czech) can be found here: www.lhmp.cz/stanice/zs/