Orphaned badger recovering
Cub's life saved by wildlife worker who plays mum day
and night
An orphaned badger cub that was found unconscious in woodland is
recovering in a wildlife centre.
Bramble the badger was discovered by a member of the public in
Aberdeen when he was only a few weeks old. He is now being looked
after at the Scottish SPCA's new wildlife rescue centre in
Clackmannanshire.
Staff at the wildlife rescue centre say that the cub was far too
young to be above ground and without his mother. He was probably
unconscious because he had gone for too long without milk.
A wildlife assistant, Kaniz Hyat, is hand-rearing the baby
badger, who is now eight weeks old. She takes him home every night
and he sleeps in a box in her bedroom.
"He is doing really well now," Kaniz said.
"He's being bottle-fed just now until he's a bit older and
starts weaning at about 10 to 12 weeks."
Badgers normally have at least one brother or sister who they
play with and learn from. Kaniz has to take on this role instead,
and together they enjoy lots of rough play.
"He's getting more of his badger traits," she said.
In a few more weeks Bramble will start eating solid food, such
as baby rice and minced meat.
"Then I'm hands-off," Kaniz said. "I won't get to see him at
all. But you could never have a tame badger, it's only right he
goes back into the wild."
Click here to
watch a recording of our most recent Daily What
Newsround on Glow TV, featuring a special guest from the Scottish
SPCA with an update on Bramble the badger.
Click here to have a go at our badger quiz.
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Orphaned badger recovering
Multi-million pound wildlife centre funded entirely by
donations
Scotland's first National Wildlife Rescue Centre has been opened
to help an animal charity to cope with a huge rise in the number of
sick and injured animals it is treating.
The Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
(SSPCA) said its vets had cared for 3,917 sick, injured and
orphaned wild animals in 2011, including 2678 birds. This is a rise
of 75% compared with five years ago.
The charity said the rise was due to an increased awareness of
its work in helping all animals, not just pets.
Colin Seddon, the manager of the new centre, said:
"We often had to transfer wildlife to other organisations to
continue their rehabilitation but we can now care for every type of
wild animal found in Scotland from rescue to release, with only
whales and dolphins the exception.
"This is a major step forward for wildlife welfare in Scotland,
with our ability to treat all kinds of birds and wild mammals
having been greatly enhanced.
"Animals will now be cared for in one place right up until they
are ready to be released back into their natural habitat, keeping
human interaction and stress to an absolute minimum."
The £3.5 million centre at Fishcross, in Clackmannanshire has
been funded entirely by donations. It is big enough to look after
5,000 wild animals each year.
It has vet facilities, seal, swan and otter pools, aviaries,
wild mammal enclosures, paddocks and a stable block for deer.
It is the only centre in Scotland with facilities to care for
birds that have been caught up in oil spills. Staff can deal with
up to 1,000 oiled bird casualties at any one time.
The centre currently holds 60 birds and animals.
One of those receiving treatment is Bramble, an orphaned badger
cub, who was found unconscious in Aberdeen when he was only a few
weeks old.
The National Wildlife Rescue Centre is not open to visitors, but
members of the public can take sick or injured wild animals there
for treatment.
Anyone who discovers an injured or distressed wild animal should
call the SSPCA's Animal Helpline on 03000 999 999.
Click here to
watch a recording of our most recent Daily What
Newsround on Glow TV, featuring a special guest from the Scottish
SPCA with an update on Bramble the badger.
Click here to have a go at our badger quiz.
Lesson ideas and
suggestions
Read and discuss lesson ideas on our Facebook page
Join our mailing list (Glow login
required)