The ALKYONI Aegean Wild life Hospital in Paros hosted the second meeting of organisations rescuing wild animals. The two-day meeting (September 28-29), organized by ANIMA and ARCHELON, was attended by ALKYONI, ARCTUROS, MOm, ARION, DRASI (Action for Wildlife), Naxos Wildlife Protection Society, the Environmental Association TULIPA GOULIMI, the Wildlife Rescue Scout Team and the Environmental Protection Society of Kastoria.

Participants welcomed the recently introduced regulations about the operation of Wildlife Care Centres, First Aid Stations and the Wildlife Immediate Response Network and discussed about their implementation, matters related to organising and managing volunteers as well as the drawing up of a Code of Ethics that will govern the operation of this network.

The discussions unanimously reached the following conclusions:

The recently introduced regulations about the operation of Wildlife Care Centres, First Aid Stations and the Wildlife Immediate Response Network are a positive development for all organizations active in the care of wild animals

This institutional framework which was just created needs to be implemented in conditions of mutual respect between the organizations, which have undertaken this difficult task of rescuing wildlife and the Supervising Authority in the Ministry of Environment.

It is important that the autonomous nature of each Rescue / Care Centre is recognized in practice. Before issuing administrative decisions concerning or related to the care process and reintegration of an animal that is in a Centre (research permits, etc.), the Supervising Authority should enter a written consultation procedure with the respective Centre and obtain the Care Centre’s agreement.

All Wildlife Care organizations rely on volunteering, but there are different responsibilities and tasks in each of Rescue/ Care Centre. A joint approach is needed regarding the registration of volunteers on a special application of the ERGANI system.

The meeting was organized within the framework of a project titled "Creating a Cooperation Network of Organizations Active in the Care of Wild Animals in Greece". This project, financed by the European Economic Area (EEA), intends to promote a closer and more effective cooperation between the organizations and agencies involved in the care of wild animals in Greece.

At the next meeting, which is going to take place at the ARCHELON Rescue Centre, in Glyfada Attikis the main goal will be to complete the drafting of the Code of Ethics of the Network’s organizations.