The wildlife care centre in Dudelange, in southern Luxembourg, will resume its activities from tomorrow, Friday 1 May 2020.
The centre had been forced to stop receiving wildlife shortly after confinement began in March in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Moreover, several staff members were quarantined on medical advice, which meant that the centre's internal capacity was too limited to accommodate new animals. The centre thus focussed on caring for the 200 animals already in their care.
Now, in part due to financial assistance from the Ministry of the Environment, Climate and Sustainable Development, the wildlife care centre will once again take in wild animals in distress from 1 May. The reception of animals will be guaranteed in Dudelange as well as at the "Wëlldéier Drop-off" stations in Clervaux, Junglinster and Niederfeulen.
Normally, dozens of people work in the centre each week, as part of the fixed team and volunteers who help run the centre. Thanks to support from the Environment Ministry, the centre was able to recruit two additional nurses for spring and summer to make up for a lack of volunteers. For the coming months, between May and July, around 2,500 animals are estimated to be welcomed, cared for and housed in the care centre in Dudelange.
Although the reception of animals is guaranteed from tomorrow, voluntary work is currently limited to the service of the "Wëlldéierentaxi" for the transport of animals between the drop-offs and the centre. All other public activities related to the care centre have been cancelled for the near future, in order to minimise the movement of people.
