Walking wounded: Inside the world's busiest wildlife hospital

Blackleaf

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The British are often described as being a nation of animal lovers, and St Tiggywinkles Wildlife Hospital in Buckinghamshire may be proof of that.

It is the world's busiest wildlife hospital, with over 10,000 orphaned or injured animals.

From foxes to doves, from hedgehogs to bats, and from blackbirds to grass snakes, Tiggywinkles offers a perfect home for Britain's wild animals.

No more than a handful: The adorable newborn animals that can sit in the palm of your hand



By Eddie Wrenn
28th December 2008
Daily Mail


Brace yourselves, because the following pictures are so adorable they're likely to bring an emotional tug to the most hardened heart.

From Rupert the orphaned Munjac deer, whose picture of peaceful slumber makes Bambi look like a wizened rhino, to the brood of 13 ducklings clutched in the arms of a carer, these are less than a handful of the 10,200 orphaned or injured animals making their way through St Tiggywinkles Wildlife Hospital in Buckinghamshire.

From doves to ducks, rabbits to robins, swans to snakes, the whole menagerie of Britain's wildlife make their way through the centre for some tender love and care, hopefully finishing with a happy ending as they return to their native homes.



Give me a break: A four-week old fox cub recovering at hospital in May after suffering a broken back leg


Dear deer: 'Rupert' the Munjac, who was born at the hospital in September after his mother died following a car crash

The catalogue of treated animals is truly tremendous - since January this year they have cared for 2,500 hedgehogs, 1,600 pigeons, 720 ducks, 710 blackbirds, 465 collared doves, 420 deer, 400 rabbits, 230 swans, 200 mice, 192 robins, 180 foxes, 130 badgers, 125 bats, 126 owls, 76 geese, 40 frogs and 31 grass snakes.

Oh and also sandwiched in there is one cuckoo!


Prickly care: Orphaned baby hedgehogs recovering at the hospital in October


Unlucky: A brood of 13 orphaned ducklings receiving tender loving care at the hospital this month

The hospital, which bills itself at the busiest wildlife hospital in the world, is always looking for donations - it costs the center around £110 to care for a hedgehog over the winter.

It also offer NVQ Level 2 Animal Care training for people aged 16 to 23.

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