An iconic rare bird and two orphaned bear cubs are currently in the care of the North Island Wildlife Recovery Centre in Errington.
The juvenile raven was brought to the centre approximately one week ago and was in rough shape, said Derek Downes, one of the animal care technicians tasked with nursing it back to health.
sa国际传媒淚t was on the ground and it suffered some injuries to its feet,sa国际传媒� said Downes. sa国际传媒淭heysa国际传媒檙e an extremely rare mutation, well-documented in this part of the world, specifically the (Parksville Qualicum Beach) area, which is why they have been dubbed the sacred white raven.sa国际传媒�
The centre has occasionally cared for white ravens over the years but the survival chances for the birds has been slim. Unofficially, according to Downes, theysa国际传媒檝e known of only one that has made it all the way to adulthood.
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sa国际传媒淭hey typically donsa国际传媒檛 do very well,sa国际传媒� said Downes. sa国际传媒淭hey have compromised immune systems, so wesa国际传媒檙e really, really trying very hard with this one. Wesa国际传媒檝e learned in the past of what we can do to help it and wesa国际传媒檙e hoping with this one wesa国际传媒檙e going to have some success.sa国际传媒�
The white raven is not feeding on its own and had to be force-fed, using a tube. Downes said it is getting stronger and improving each day.
sa国际传媒淲e ran a course of antibiotics on him and numerous vitamins and minerals to try to help boost his immune system because that seems to be what lacks with these white ravens,sa国际传媒� he said. sa国际传媒淲esa国际传媒檙e really hoping for the best.sa国际传媒�
Downes welcomes the rare knowledge he is picking up from the experience of treating the raven.
sa国际传媒淭his is my first time handling one,sa国际传媒� said Downes. sa国际传媒淚 have seen photos and videos but never actually seen one up close and been able to actually be hands on in helping and trying to help this bird survive. Itsa国际传媒檚 a really magical thing.sa国际传媒�
While the white raven is generating plenty of attention, the centre is also busy caring for two orphaned black bear cubs, after conservation officers rescued them from the Woss area near Campbell River.
sa国际传媒淲e were able to luckily get them and they were still in great condition,sa国际传媒� said Downes. sa国际传媒淭hey havensa国际传媒檛 been on their own for very long so these cubs stand a really, really great chance. They have a long journey with us ahead but these cubs are in good hands now and thankfully wesa国际传媒檙e able to do everything we can. They should be able to go back home sometime next year.sa国际传媒�
The centre is also nearly ready to release three black bears rescued a year ago, including sa国际传媒楥rumpetsa国际传媒� who was only 2.2 pounds when brought to the centre. They will be released at the location where they were found on Vancouver Island.
sa国际传媒淭he old ones are going home and the new ones are coming in for help,sa国际传媒� said Downes. sa国际传媒淚tsa国际传媒檚 an amazing thing to witness and and amazing to be a part of. Itsa国际传媒檚 really emotional to think about all the trials and tribulations that those orphan cubs have gone through and to now be on the precipice of going back home.sa国际传媒�
The founder of the centre, Robin Campbell, is proud of the work theysa国际传媒檝e been doing in more than two decades to help distressed and orphaned bears become healthy and be able to return to their natural habitat.
sa国际传媒淏ears are very difficult and theresa国际传媒檚 a huge challenge in doing bears,sa国际传媒� said Campbell. sa国际传媒淚tsa国际传媒檚 a huge responsibility that we took on over 25 years ago. We have released hundreds of bears back in the wild. But it never changes.sa国际传媒�
Campbell relishes the thought of the bearssa国际传媒� first night of freedom, with no walls to limit their movements and open to the elements and natural surroundings.
sa国际传媒淭his is so exciting for us, not only for all our successes but also for our failures,sa国际传媒� said Campbell. sa国际传媒淎nd it is so emotional for us. All animals are very important from small birds to the bears. It doesnsa国际传媒檛 matter what it is. Itsa国际传媒檚 such a thrill when you can have a few successes.sa国际传媒�
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