Wild animals have their own treatment and rehabilitation center

Founder of the center Professor Józef Nicpoń welcomed all the guests and expressed his gratitude and satisfaction with the completion of the center. Rector Professor Roman Kołacz congratulated Professor Józef Nicpoń on his acomplishment of the idea, which was begun by Professor Andrzej Dubiel a few years ago. Professor Roman Kołacz also expressed his gratitude and appreciation to the sponsors of the center: including the Regional Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management in Wrocław and the Municipial Council, which both helped finance the center.

– “There must be balance in the environment” – said Bishop Edward Janiak, who is the national chaplain of forestry, water economy and environmental protection workers, in his speech. “I was so pleased with the invitation and the motto, I would like to congratulate you on this initiative. God Bless You!”

– The center will cooperate with various associations and foundations that deal with the protection of animals as well as with scientific centers – said DVM Piotr Szymański, director of the center.

– We are forecasting that the center will treat a few hundreds of animals yearly – said Doctor Tomasz Piasecki from the Department of Epizootiology and Clinic of Birds and Exotic Animals.

Proper treatment and rehabilitation of wild animals and integrating them back to their natural habitat is the main role of such specialist veterinary centers. There are to few centers in Poland and lower Silesia has had only one (in Myślibórz), which was founded close to National Forests, but its capacity is limited. Statistical data shows that several dozen of wild birds and a dozen or so wild animals need special veterinary help annually (statistical data presented by Foundation of Wild Animal Protection). The success rate of such centers is determined when wild animals are properly treated, rehabilitated and then released back into their natural habitats.

DVM Piotr Szymański, who has been treating wild animals for over 20 years, is responsible for the project, as well as the supervision and operations of the center. He has acquired his theoretical and practical knowledge from Dr. Gunther Trommer, a well-known falconer and Doctor of veterinary medicine in Germany. Dr. Piotr Szymański has been a veterinary consultant of Research Station in Czempin (falcon breeding) since 2000. He participates in research on the wild population of hawks (Accipiter gentilis), which is conducted partly in Złotówek. The research is supervised by Professor Marek Houszko – Head of the Laboratory of Ecology and Diseases of game on the University of Environmental and Life Sciences in Wrocław. That laboratory has been involved in different research programs on etiology of diseases of hares (Lepus europaeus), supervised by Professor Józef Nicpoń.

The center for treatment and rehabilitation of wild animals, which was created as a part of a Research Center of Forest Environment and Game Breeding in Złotówek , has a modern clinic and logistic support ensuring the proper conditions for animals’ well-being and hygiene. The center meets all formal requirements and has a permit of General Drectorate for Environmenta Protection in Warsaw.

Regional Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management in Wrocław has donated 138 thousand zł to the organization of treatment and rehabilitaion of wild animals in Złotówek. The center has also been given support from the Department of Agriculture and Environment of the Municipal Council in Wrocław. The center’s operations are supervised by Rector Professor Józef Nicpoń.

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Złotówek is a town in Trzebnicki region near Zawonia (East of Trzebnica- road 340) 35 km from Wrocław.