RSPCA: Centres crowded with hundreds of orphaned and injured ducklings

Monday, 13 June 2011 11:33 AM

Centres crowded with hundreds of orphaned and injured ducklings

RSPCA urges tolerance towards wildlife

The RSPCA is asking motorists to drive carefully and watch out for duck families on the roads after hundreds of ducklings have been admitted to its wildlife centres.

It is also urging tolerance towards wildlife after reports that many were victim to deliberate cruelty.

One duckling was recently stamped on, another pelted with toys and several others were orphaned after a car was seen deliberately aiming for, and killing, their mother.

Injured and orphaned ducklings are regularly one of the largest admissions to our wildlife centres. Last year, there were 1753 mallard ducks brought into RSPCA centres in need of care – more than any other species.

Already this spring, there has been total of 550 ducklings admitted. At East Winch wildlife centre in Norfolk, one of the worst hit areas, there has so far been 235 ducklings admitted, with 45 arriving in just one day.

Many were injured in road accidents or orphaned after their parents were killed but others were purposefully attacked.

Alison Charles, manager at East Winch, said: “We would urge people to take extra care on the roads at this time of year and keep your eyes open for any young wildlife which may be crossing them – especially ducks which seem to get a particularly rough deal.

“We have more ducklings than I can count at the moment – it is a real problem and sadly one which we tend to see every year. Some are here because of genuine accidents but many are the result of deliberate acts which can be pretty brutal.

“I have known of far too many cases where people have aimed for duck families in the road, or pelted them with sticks and stones.

“It never fails to shock me how people can be so intentionally cruel.”

Notes to editors:

— For images, interview requests and further information please contact the press office on 0300 123 0244/0288.

— The RSPCA has four wildlife centres across the UK and all have had numbers of ducklings brought in. East Winch in Norfolk has had 235; Stapeley Grange in Cheshire 194, West hatch in Somerset 82 and Mallydams in Hastings 42.

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