From Rescue to Release – Our Wildlife Treatment Protocol
You brought us a wild animal – what happens next?
Thank you for acting responsibly and caring about wildlife.
If you've just delivered a wild animal to us (or it has been brought in on your behalf), you're probably wondering:
What happens now? Will the animal survive? Will I hear back? Will it be released?
1. Arrival and Initial Check
Once the animal arrives:
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It is registered and assigned a unique case number.
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A trained staff member performs a quick triage to assess the urgency of its condition.
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The animal is placed in a quiet, species-appropriate holding area to reduce stress.
2. Full Medical Examination
When stable, the animal undergoes a comprehensive veterinary exam, which may include:
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Physical examination
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Blood tests
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Imaging (X-ray, ultrasound)
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Parasite or infection screening
Animals in critical condition are treated immediately.
3. Treatment & Recovery
If treatable, the animal receives:
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Medication and wound care
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Supportive therapy (fluids, nutrition, pain relief)
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Safe and hygienic housing, adapted to its species and condition
We always aim for full recovery and future release into the wild.
4. Rehabilitation
As the animal improves, we begin rehabilitation:
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Strengthening and natural behavior training
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Use of flight cages, aquatic tanks, or other environments that simulate the wild
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Minimal human contact to preserve its natural instincts
5. Release
If the animal recovers fully and meets all release criteria, it is ready to return to the wild.
Before any release, the following conditions must be met:
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The animal is clinically stable and fully recovered
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It displays normal, species-specific behavior
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It is physically capable of surviving independently in the wild
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It has undergone successful rehabilitation with minimal human imprinting
If recovery is successful, the animal is:
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Released into a safe and ecologically appropriate area
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Sometimes near the site where it was found
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Always in accordance with legal and biological guidelines
This is the happiest part of our work – seeing a life return to the wild.
6. Documentation
Every step is:
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Carefully documented
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Reported to the responsible authorities
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Included in our annual statistics
This helps ensure transparency, accountability, and proper monitoring of protected species.
Will I receive an update?
Because we handle hundreds of cases each year, and because the treatment and rehabilitation process can take days, weeks, or even months, we unfortunately cannot provide individual updates by phone.
Please do not call for updates – emergency lines must remain free for urgent rescue situations.
Our staff must prioritize animal care and triage.
If you would like to request information about a specific case, we kindly ask that you:
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Wait at least 2 days after the animal has been delivered.
– In the first 48 hours, the animal must be stabilized, documented, and assessed, and may be in critical condition.
Important notice for the public:
Golden Eye Wildlife Institute works in close cooperation with the official national wildlife rehabilitation centres and maintains direct access to the official records of all admitted animals. This allows us to verify the status of any protected wild animal brought in for treatment or care
For official guidance, professional advice, or to report an injured protected wild animal, please also contact one of the following authorized facilities:
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Veterinary Faculty – Clinic for Birds, Reptiles and Small Mammals
☎️ 01/4779-248
01/4779-251
🌐https://www.vf.uni-lj.si/podrocje/klinika-za-ptice-male-sesalce-plazilce
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Clinic for Wild, Exotic, and Small Animals Golob d.o.o.
☎️ +386 31 813 097
📩 info@veterina-golob.si
🌐 www.veterina-golob.si
If you would like to inquire about a specific animal, we kindly ask that you submit a request via our online form or contact us by email. Due to the high volume of cases, please avoid calling the official providers unless the matter is urgent.