The Wildlife Rehabilitation Center "Luana's Dream" gives Romanian wild animals in need a second chance. Injured and sick wild animals are professionally cared for or raised here after their rescue and later released back into the wild.
Romania is a country where, due to the historically brutal human-dog relationship, animal welfare has focused primarily on rescuing dogs. Therefore, the rescue and care of wild animals seemed to many to be a far-fetched and unimportant issue. Nevertheless (or perhaps precisely because of this), SUST facilitated the opening of the "Luana's Dream" wildlife center on the outskirts of Bucharest in 2014, thus creating the foundation for the professional rescue and medical care of wild animals, with the sole aim of restoring their freedom.
The existence of this center gave the public in Romania the opportunity for the first time to care for other animal species in need and to learn about their needs: red deer, foxes, badgers, turtles, many bird species and many other animals find shelter and expert help here.
Orphan Wildlife @ Wildlife Rehabilitation Center
"Baby season" is the most difficult and challenging time of year at the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center: it begins in May and lasts until August. More than half of the year's total animal intake (2800 animals in 2022) takes place during this period – primarily young animals, which account for 30% of the year's total. Hundreds of birds, mammals, and reptiles from more than 100 different species find shelter and care here. On some days, we reach peak numbers of up to 30 animals per day and sometimes care for over 300 animals at the center. In addition, during this peak season, we receive around 50 calls daily from people who have found animals and are seeking advice.
The reasons for these animals' plight are manifold: people find orphaned and distressed young animals and don't know how to proceed (or even what kind of animals they are). Many animals are unfortunately taken from the wild unnecessarily because people assume they need help (this highlights the importance of our public awareness campaigns). Other situations include cat attacks (or the risk thereof) and clearly visible injuries (broken wings, wounds) where we must provide active assistance.
SUST covers the costs for the entire young animal season (medicine, feed and special care) and thus makes the operation of this center significantly possible.
Address
Cheiul Dâmboviței Street
Popeşti-Leordeni
Ilfov district (3 minutes from the RATB Taberei bus stop of bus 223 and 200 m from the Trend Residence apartment complex)
GPS location: https://goo.gl/maps/Z8nEMw6ywaA2
Phone: 0748 395 859
Public opening hours by appointment only: MS 12:00 – 16:00
Email: animale.salbatice@visulluanei.org
