The Wildlife Recovery Center of El Saler, in Valencia, closed 2025 with a Record activity: 9.310 injured animals treated at its facilities. This figure represents an increase of nearly 21% compared to the previous year and consolidates this public resource as a key element in the protection of wildlife in the Valencian Community.
The increase is not only due to a greater capacity at the center, but also to a combination of extreme weather events, such as the heat wave that affected Spain and parts of EuropeThere is also an increasingly involved citizenry, who report more frequently when they find an injured, disoriented or helpless animal.
20% more animals treated and an average of 25 daily admissions
During 2025, the El Saler Center recorded the entry of 9.310 copies compared to 7.611 the previous yearThis represents a 20,7% increase in the number of animals cared for. In practical terms, the center's staff have handled an average of about 25 animals per day, a considerable workload for a specialized resource of this type.
Much of this rebound is directly related to the mass influx of swiftlingsThe crested pochard is one of the birds most sensitive to heat waves. When temperatures soar, many chicks fall from their nests or suffer heatstroke, triggering alerts and increasing admissions to wildlife rehabilitation centers.
The high temperatures recorded in 2025 in much of Spain and several European countries tested the response capacity of the wildlife center network, forcing intensify veterinary and logistical efforts to be able to handle the additional volume of animals without compromising minimum standards of welfare and care.
The Ministry of the Environment also interprets this increase as a sign of greater social awareness towards wildlifeMore and more citizens are aware of these centers and are turning to them when they find injured or distressed animals, instead of trying to handle them on their own or ignoring the situation.
What animals arrive at the El Saler Center
The profile of the animals that enter El Saler paints a fairly clear picture of the fauna that coexists with the population and the problems it faces. More than half of the animals cared for are native birdswith swifts and sparrows as the most common species.
After birds, the second largest group is made up of reptiles, especially turtlesOf particular note in this section is the case of invasive exotic turtles, which make up the majority of the tortoises arriving at the center. Many of these animals come from abandoned pets and pose an additional problem for local biodiversity, as they compete with native species for food and space.
The remainder of the income corresponds to mammals of different sizes and speciesSome of them were quite large. In fact, on one occasion the La Granja center in l'Albufera even housed a wolf which, after receiving the necessary initial care, was later transferred to a center more specialized in this type of fauna.
In addition to injured animals from the surrounding area, the three wildlife recovery centers in the Valencian Community —El Saler in Valencia, Santa Faz in Alicante and Forn del Vidre in Castellón— take care of native species seized from illegal traffickingMany of these specimens arrive in very precarious conditions, with abundant dirt, malnutrition and wounds after spending days in tiny spaces.
This entry profile requires dedicating a much more intensive and prolonged veterinary careSince, in addition to physical injuries, it is necessary to treat the chronic stress and general deterioration caused by this type of captivity, with the aim of helping the animals recover a state as close as possible to what they would have in freedom.
Centers open all year round and increased resources
To address this increase in animals being cared for and to improve the care they receive, the Third Vice Presidency and Ministry of Environment, Infrastructure, Territory and Recovery has opted for strengthen material and human resources intended for the collection and handling of wild mammals, birds and reptiles.
Among the measures adopted, the decision that the Wildlife Recovery Centers remain open 365 days a yearwith extended opening hours. This continuous service allows for a faster response to calls, which is crucial for the survival of many animals arriving in critical condition.
The facilities are managed by the public company Vaersa, responsible for the rehabilitation of injured wildlife as well as the development of breeding programs for endangered species. In this area, work is being done on specific programs for the marbled teal, an endangered species that requires a constant effort in captive breeding and controlled releases.
Breeding and reintroduction protocols are based on specialized veterinary teams and very detailed guidelines to prepare the animals before returning them to their habitat. Their behavior, ability to fly or swim, and adaptation to the environment are evaluated, in order to ensure the release has the greatest possible chance of success.
The increase in staff and the improvement of equipment have also allowed streamline the assessment, treatment, and follow-up processes of the specimens admitted, reducing waiting times and optimizing the use of available spaces within the centers.
How the animals arrive: citizens, agents and network of municipalities
The animals access the El Saler Wildlife Recovery Center through different entry routes that complement each otherIn many cases, it is the citizens themselves who go directly with the animal when they find it injured or disoriented in public areas, parks, roads or agricultural zones.
When the person who discovers the animal cannot move it, there is a possibility of contact the center by phone to request that a specialized team travel to the location. This on-site intervention is especially useful when dealing with larger animals, which are difficult to handle without the appropriate equipment, or when the discovery occurs far from the facilities.
In other cases, the transfer is the responsibility of the authorities and security forcesEnvironmental agents under the Ministry of the Environment, local police from various municipalities and the Civil Guard —usually through SEPRONA— routinely participate in the rescue and transport of wildlife.
This network of institutional collaboration works both when agents locate the animals directly and when other citizens hand them over. The goal is for the animals to reach as soon as possible in the hands of qualified veterinary personnelminimizing waiting time and the stress they are subjected to.
In those municipalities that actively collaborate with the Generalitat, a system has been implemented centralization of collections through the Local PoliceResidents can hand over found animals there, and from that point, the corresponding recovery center is notified to ensure that the collection takes place in less than 24 hours.
Partner clinics, letters to local councils and networking
In the province of Alicante, the network is further expanded thanks to collaboration with veterinary clinics that act as collection pointsThese establishments temporarily receive the animals, provide them with initial care if necessary, and coordinate their subsequent transfer with the recovery center.
In order to strengthen local involvement, the Ministry has sent letters to the mayors of the municipalities that generate the highest number of revenues in recovery centers. These communications request collaboration and propose establishing clear points of reference for the public.
The idea is that, when a resident contacts the Wildlife Recovery Center after finding an animal, it can be directed to a pre-established location to centralize the collectionsThis simplifies the process, avoids the scattering of alerts, and speeds up the response, which is especially important during periods of high demand, such as heat waves.
The Valencian Community currently has three reference centers: La Granja de El Saler (Valencia), Santa Faz (Alicante) and Forn del Vidre (Castellón)Together, the three form a network that covers the entire autonomous territory, allowing resources to be redistributed when necessary and offering specialized care depending on the type of fauna and the place of origin.
This coordinated structure not only facilitates the rescue and treatment of injured animals, but also strengthens the fight against illegal wildlife traffickingby having facilities prepared to receive seized specimens, assess their condition and plan, when possible, their future release or transfer to suitable centers.
The 2025 balance sheet shows that the El Saler Wildlife Center and the rest of the facilities in the regional network have not only managed a notable increase in animals treatedInstead, they have consolidated a model based on collaboration between government agencies, law enforcement, veterinary professionals, and the public. This entire system, which often goes unnoticed, is making a decisive contribution to wildlife conservation, as more and more animals are getting a second chance in their natural environment.
