Honk like an Egyptian!!

Press Release - 6th December 2011

The Leatherhead-based Wildlife Aid Foundation deals with emergency situations for all types of wildlife but the vast majority are native British species, but when the charity’s volunteers were called out to rescue a sick bird this week they were surprised to see that it was an Egyptian goose, which is extremely rare in this country.

Egyptian geese only appeared in England in the 1990s and they are mostly in the South East. All those tracked so far come from one breeding group. The bird rescued by the Wildlife Aid Foundation had a tracking ring and by checking her ID number the Foundation was able to ascertain that she had been caught once before – in Walton-on-Thames earlier this year – and ringed by ornithologist Phil Belman.  Rings enable conservationists to track individual birds and monitor bird populations.

This is the first time that the rescue team at the Wildlife Aid Foundation have come into contact with an Egyptian goose. After a few days’ care at the Foundation’s hospital in Leatherhead, she has now been released at Painshill Park in Cobham.

Simon Cowell MBE, founder director of the Wildlife Aid Foundation, said: “This is a remarkable species of goose that can live for up to 14 years, and in ancient times it was considered by the Egyptians as sacred. When we found this particular creature, she was very weak, thin, and obviously exhausted. I’m pleased to say that thanks to care from the team here at the Wildlife Aid Foundation she has been able to recover and regain her strength. Unfortunately, though, she has an old injury on her right foot, which will leave her with a slight limp. We have moved her to Painshill Park which, as a private estate managed for conservation, is a safe environment for her, and where she can be with others of her species.”

Painshill Park Trust works with a number of local wildlife rescue centres as a release site for rescued birds and was therefore delighted to help the Wildlife Aid Foundation.

“We were delighted to help the Wildlife Aid Foundation as Painshill is already home to many different species of birds including Egyptian Geese, says Mike Gove, Chief Executive of Painshill Park Trust. “The Serpentine Lake provides a valuable breeding site for wildlife and the mixed woodland is a favourite habitat for Short-Eared Owls, Swifts, Swallows, the Song Thrush and Treekcreepers. Kestrels can be seen in the Alpine Valley all year round.”

The Wildlife Aid Foundation handles more than 20,000 wildlife emergencies every year. For details of the charity’s work, caring for sick, injured and orphaned wildlife, go to www.wildlifeaid.org.uk.

Visit www.painshill.co.uk for more information about the beautiful 18th century landscape garden.