EVS Project VOC Oostende Wildlife Rescue Centre Ostend (Belgium)

What do we do?

• The Wildlife Rescue Centre Ostend is an independent non-profit organisation that is part of a national chain of hospitals under Birdprotection Flanders. We have been founded in 1984, at first to take care of the many oiled birds that came ashore. The last 3 years we get at about 2500-3000 patients, most of them because of human activities (e.g. oil, but also traffic, birds taken by a cat, birds that flew against a window…).

• Our main goal is the rehabilitation of wildlife so we can release them back into nature. By doing this we also try to educate the public. For a lot of people the bird they find is their first contact with nature, and we try to make that a start for more interest. The centre organizes activities about nature and bird protection for local people. We also support scientific research of different institutes in providing data about the animals that stay in the centre.

Who are we?

• We work with 6 staff members (1 fulltime, 5 parttime). We have at about 150 volunteers (for administration, picking up birds, animal care, activities). Our organization has at about 1000 members.

• Next to the staff and local volunteers, we have 3 long-term EVS (1year-project) the whole year round, and 4 short-term EVS in summermonths (june-july & august-september).

The staff…

Animal Rehab Manager & EVS Coordinator Michael Deryckere

Veterinarian Raul Garcia

Coordinator volunteers & biologist Liesbeth Verlinden

Animal nurse Isabelle Allemeersch

General coordinator Claude Velter

Where are we?

• The Wildlife Rescue Centre Ostend is situated in the city of Oostende, a city at the Flemish coast. We speak Dutch here. In the Centre, the spoken languages are Dutch & English.

• The building itself is situated in the nature reserve of Raversyde, and close to the Ostend Airport. We are very easy to reach by tram, bus, bike or car.

The building…

The cages and inside rooms

Veterinarians rooms Purple room

The building consist of a central hallway, with 9 rooms connected on that, all with their own function; Also: • shop with books, toys and nestboxes for birds; • visitors area upstairs; • Office

Accomodation short-term

• The accomodation of the short-term is part of the Rescue Centre. It’s a room with bulk beds, so you share the room with another short-term EVS;

• You have your own fridge, kitchen with microwave and fire, and also seperated bathrooms & toilets (boys and girls);

• Off course, this accomodation is also used by the local volunteers (not the bedroom).

Accomodation short-term EVS

Work in the centre

They will be involved in several tasks, such as:

feeding animals, assistance with medical care of fractures, diseases and wounds, catching and releasing birds and animals and administrative work/assistance in organization of activities for fundraising or an own project (depending on their own interests).

Our specialisation: revalidation oiled seabirds and waterbirds, almost 80% survives, one of the leading Centres in the world!

Release!

Also -+ 1000 young birds in summer

Also other wildlife…

And also domestic animals…

• Escapes, neglected or because the owners cannot take care of them anymore…

Conclusion

• Almost 3000 animals a year;

• Of which 85% birds;

• Almost 90% wild animals;

• And 55-60% can be saved or adopted!

Our goal is to release wild animals in the best condition in the wild. That means: no talking to the animals, cuddling or treating them as pets!

Accomodation long-term EVS

• A studenthouse near to the city of Ostend;

• 3 separate studio’s with kitchenette;

• Bathroom and toilets are shared with local students;

• Close to supermarket, tram- & busstops, and just in between the centre of the city and the Rescue Centre (20min biking);

Accomodation long-term EVS

Under construction…

Other practical arrangements…

• Pocket + foodmoney: €340/month;

• Free wireless internet in both accomodations;

• Washing machine in Rescue Centre;

• No other costs (no gas, electricity or watercosts)!

• Transport cost funded by National Agency;

• EVS Insurance included.

• Use of bike for every volunteer

Projects 2014

1 year projects starting on:

• 7th of July;

• 15th of July;

2 month projects starting on:

• 17th of June untill 17th of August: 2 places;

• 17th of August untill 17 th of October: 2 places;

• Or possibility to come 4 months (June-October)

Future of the Rescue Centre

• Expanding: new outside cages are built right now + new pools (1st fase: 2014);

The city of Ostend

• Biggest city at the Belgian coast;

• Calm in winter; busy in summer;

• Tramline along the complete Belgian coastline, what makes other cities and nature very easy to reach;

• Trainstation of Ostend: every hour trains to all the biggest cities of Belgium.

• Beach at 250meter of the Rescue centre or from the EVS accomodation!

The city of Ostend

Contact?

• EVS Coordinator & Animal Rehab Manager:

Mr. Michael Deryckere;

- email: voc.oostende@vogelbescherming.be

- tel: +32 59 80 67 66