Wildlife Rescue Videos
With funding support from:
GRAND OPENING! Galapagos Wildlife Rescue Center Officially Completed!
We are very proud to announce that World Vets, together with the Galápagos National Park, officially opened the Galapagos Wildlife Rescue Center last week! Located on San Cristobal Island, it is the first and only rescue center on the island, which is the capital of Galapagos. The grand opening was attended by Dr. Arturo Izurieta, Director of the Galápagos National Park, Dr Cathy King, Executive Director of World Vets and other local authorities, the community and staff of both institutions.
World Vets works together with the Galápagos National Park Rapid Response Network, providing 24/7 response for injured wildlife of all species. In the last year, our veterinary team, together with Park Rangers, responded to over 400 wildlife cases on the island. About 70% of the cases involved Galápagos sea lions, which are classified as an endangered species.
The new center will greatly improve the capacity to help wildlife and includes areas for surgery, diagnostic imaging, office, treatment area, laboratory, animal holding pens and necropsy/pathology laboratory. It is equipped with digital x-ray, ultrasound, gas anesthesia, oxygen concentrator, bloodwork machines, laboratory, intensive care unit for birds and reptiles, multi-parameter monitors, computer workstations and Starlink high speed internet.
San Cristobal is the home to a diverse population of iconic species such as Galápagos sea lions, giant tortoises, sea turtles, marine iguanas, Blue Footed Booby and much more. We are proud to work together with the Galápagos National Park in these ongoing efforts to improve the long-term capacity for veterinary support and wildlife response to help protect the biodiversity of the islands.
This is the first phase of a multi-phase project. We are very grateful for the funding support from the SeaWorld Conservation Fund and donations made in memory of Dr. Jerry Brown and Joan Wattles, which helped make this dream a reality.
With Thanks to Major Donors:
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- Donations in memory of Joan Wattles
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- Donations in memory of Dr. Jerry Brown
Summer Clinic in Galapagos
World Vets’ small animal clinic continues to provide veterinary services to the community of San Cristobal, Galapagos. Volunteer veterinarians from the USA and local clinic staff attended to sick and injured pets, performed health checks, and administered parasite treatments. Over the months of June and July, World Vets helped over 300 cats and dogs, free-of-charge.
This also included World Vets’ large team of volunteers, who recently concluded a large-scale sterilization clinic on the island. Headed by lead field service veterinarian Dr. Winnie Neunzig and lead technician Christina Sloan, the team provided 159 sterilization surgeries and many health exams, veterinary treatments, and other surgeries. Local agencies, including GAD Municipal de San Cristóbal Galápagos and Agencia de Bioseguridad para Galápagos, as well as partner group Animal Balance, supported the campaign efforts.
Free veterinary services carried out through World Vets are an avenue for communities to exercise responsible pet ownership. In Galapagos, they also help to preserve and protect the rare and unique biodiversity in the region by ensuring that domestic animals do not adversely affect the wildlife through the spread of diseases and overpopulation. Thanks goes to our volunteers, partners, donors, and followers for your contribution to our ongoing mission and your part in helping animals in the Galapagos Islands and elsewhere.
Photo credits to Brenda Clees, Christina Sloan, Dawn Spangler, EJ Verble, Jessica Gonzalez, Sarah Meador, Winnie Neunzig
Sea Lion Rescue: Eel in Nose
A Galápagos sea lion was reported with an unusual situation of something protruding from its nose. Our veterinary team responded right away to find a sea lion with an EEL coming out of its nose. The team quickly captured the sea lion and carefully removed the long eel from its nose. There were no associated injuries, so the sea lion was released onsite and was quite relieved to have this visitor evicted! Surprisingly, this is not the first time we have seen a case like this. Earlier in the year we had another sea lion with an eel in its nose (see photos below).
World Vets works under a permit from the Galapagos National Park as the NGO that provides wildlife rescue services on San Cristobal Island. We work together with the amazing Park Rangers of the Galapagos National Park, responding together to help injured and entangled wildlife. This important work is also made possible through the generosity of donors and supporters of World Vets.
With funding support from:
Construction Begins for New Wildlife Rescue Center in the Galapagos Islands
On May 15th, World Vets broke ground on a new wildlife rescue center in Galapagos. This project is the first phase of a multi-year construction project which will increase the capacity for marine mammal response in Galapagos. It is much anticipated by the park rangers and management of the Galapagos National Park, and we hope to have the project completed by June 2024.
The prior facility, a 25-square-meter building with two adjacent sea lion holding pens located on National Park property, will be incorporated into the new design. The previous building will become an area exclusively for necropsies while the new addition will include a surgery area, treatment and examination area, patient holding area, and personnel workstations. There will also be an outside covered area that can be utilized for additional workspace.
The following photos show the building concepts, architectural plans, and photos of the many meetings that World Vets’ CEO and Founder Dr. Cathy King held over the last three months with architects, engineers, electricians, and park officials to move this important project toward reality.
World Vets is still raising funds to complete the project, but large donations have already been received, including those given in memory of Dr. Jerry Brown and Joan Wattles.
With major funding support from: