the essential
The summer of 2024 will have been torrid for the Regional Wildlife Conservation Center based in Millau with 879 injured animals received.
This is a record that the Regional Wildlife Conservation Center (CRSFS) would have done without this summer. “We exploded the previous record for animals welcomed during a summer by going from 600 to almost 900 admissions,” recalls the center manager, Hélène Lebreton. “So why so many welcomes? There are no more animals in nature, on the other hand there is an increasing awareness of the need for attention towards animals and this collective awareness is progressing. It's not a question of age or gender. Everyone is affected by animal suffering and wants to respond by helping with what they can.”
It is no longer even militant language but rather a reality which is advancing rapidly in public opinion. On the other hand, we must be able to respond concretely. “Going from 600 receptions to 900 is complicated in terms of financing and personnel. In addition, the Hérault reception center was closed this year and we also had some admissions from this department. So, we relied on volunteers as always. There are 80 in Millavois who come to give a day of their time and we establish a rotation. In the summer, we also have all these students who spend one or two weeks and their help allows us to supplement the numbers to complete the schedule.” The Millavois center mainly welcomes birds (90% of admissions). “To receive wild animals and care for them, the legislation is strict and restrictive in order to limit abuse and stop the idea of anarchic creation of reception centers. Also, you must have a qualification per species. This qualification takes two years of training. I have the one for birds. Administrative controls are frequent, particularly from customs who fight against animal trafficking.”
Welcome help from Onet-le-Château
“As part of our development in Ruthénois, we had the pleasure of meeting with the mayor of Onet-le-Château a person committed and convinced to help wild animals. We are going to sign a partnership with Onet where we engage in awareness-raising operations aimed at schools in the town and we will receive financial aid to help the center survive. In addition, a Castonet association, “Les Blaireaux” provided us with help and this sympathetic gesture made it possible to contribute to the life of the center. Contrary to what people think, this center, located in Millau, is not Millavois but regional. Moreover, we receive many injured animals from Ruthenois, a place where there is heavy traffic often causing collisions with birds.”
It should be noted that if the town hall of Onet-le-Château is committed to the fight for the animal cause by supporting the rescue center, the urban area of Rodez does not support the center. “We were in contact with her but it was unsuccessful.”
Expansion projects
In nearby projects, the center should integrate the premises of the former Millau SPA in 2026. “Indeed, the Millau SPA is moving and its old premises, more spacious than ours, will be allocated to us. They are located a few hundred meters from our current site near the Tarn. This will provide more space for working and receiving animals. On the other hand, we will have a lot of earthworks to carry out because the land is sloping. This is not a problem for accommodating dogs, but for installing aviaries it is not ideal. It will be necessary to carry out major earthworks in order to level the ground and we have had this project calculated with the answer being a colossal amount. Also, we are now looking for an earthmoving company that would agree to help us. We have no other solutions currently.”
In conclusion, the conservation center plays an active role in the preservation of wildlife. “This is our fight. We feel that the general public supports us, that this force is increasingly present. In a few weeks, a backup center will open in the Lot; a good thing because we also help this department. We will be able to mobilize even more in Aveyron and Lozère, two areas where we are the reception point of reference.”
You can follow the latest news from the conservation center on its Facebook page: www.facebook.com/SauvegardeFauneSauvageCaussenardMillau
