Have you ever come across a baby bird that had fallen from its nest Or maybe you’ve discovered a deer that appeared to be injured Animals large and small run into trouble every day Humans often want to help But most people are not equipped to care for a wild animal This is a job for wild animal rehabilitators Rehabilitation or rehab is the process of bringing something back to a normal healthy condition Wild animal rehab is providing care to sick injured or orphaned wildlife reh Rehabilitators know the proper way to transport and care for Reh these animals The rehabilitators also work with veterinarians the to t to treat animal injuries and illnesses Rehabilitated animals are not tamed or domesticated Once the animals are healthy are they are returned to their natural habitats the Wild animal rehabilitators can operate as ind ific individuals or organizations Some focus on specific spe species such as raptors and other birds Others will will take in any animals in need They often help protect and preserve endangered species pro
Humans & Wild Animals Wild animal rehab is largely a modern practice Through much of history it was more common for humans to domesticate or hunt wild animals However some groups did protect and care for wild animals In India an ancient religion called Jainism established some of the first animal hospitals for wild and domestic animals Jainism also banned eating animals and sacrificing them in religious ceremonies Around 250 BCE Emperor Ashoka ruled the Mauryan Empire in India He banned the hunting of certain wild animals People in the United States began to show interest in caring for wild birds in the late 1800s In 1896 the Massachusetts Audubon Society formed to protect the state’s birds and their
Audubon societies around the world are named after American John James Audubon He painted portraits of birds in the early 1800s habitats Similar organizations were soon founded in other states In 1903 the United States established its first National Wildlife Refuge It protected the birds living on Florida’s Pelican Island Increased interest in wildlife conservation led to the practice of rehabilitation The first rehabilitators often worked out of their own homes Soon organizations and institutions began rehabilitating wild animals too Illinois’s Trailside Museum of Natural History opened in 1932 It was one of the first formal animal rehab centers
