THE Scottish SPCA returned a record number of wildlife casualties to their natural habitats last year.

Scotland’s animal welfare charity released 4,651 wild animals fit and healthy in 2015, a huge leap from the 1,881 released in 2010.

Colin Seddon, manager of the Scottish SPCA’s National Wildlife Rescue Centre in Fishcross, spoke at the launch of the charity’s annual Wildlife Week (25-31 July).

He said: "Last year we were able to rescue and release more animals back to the wild than ever before. This was a 147 per cent increase on 2010’s figures which is quite incredible.

"The significant rise is partly due to our relocation in 2012 to our National Wildlife Rescue Centre in Fishcross from our former site in Dunfermline, which was being stretched to cope with the volume and diversity of animals we were rescuing.

"The £3.5 million development which was funded entirely by donations allows us to care for more sick, injured and orphaned wild animals than ever before.

"There is also an increased awareness among the Scottish public about how we can help sick, injured and orphaned wildlife, resulting in more people calling our helpline when they come across a distressed wild animal, and we’ve invested significantly in our frontline staff so we now have even more officers to respond to call-outs.

"Releasing wild animals fit and healthy back to their natural habitats is always our aim wherever possible so these statistics is incredibly encouraging.

"At Fishcross we benefit from on-site veterinary facilities which means we don’t have to move animals once they are here, keeping human interaction and stress to an absolute minimum.

"Our staff provide a very high standard of care for Scotland’s wildlife and we are tremendously proud of our progress."

A number of animals have been cared for at the Wee County-based centre.
Utah, a three week old fox cub, was found by a member of public on a road in Lanarkshire; it was believed she may have been dropped by her mother accidentally while she was moving her. 

The orphan was introduced to another fox cub of a similar age which helped her develop the type of behaviour needed to fend for herself in her natural habitat.

Utah will be released back into the wild when she is at the right age and stage to survive on her own in the wild.

Buddy the otter cub was discovered crying on a doorstep; the 10 week old cub was all alone and in distress without his mother. 

He was bottle fed milk and hand fed a diet of fish.

Although he was weak and underweight at first his condition improved and he will be released back into the wild at the end of the year when he is able to fend for himself.

Meanwhile, Jar Jar and Binks, five week old red squirrel kits, were found without their mother in Blairgowrie. 

They were discovered on the ground and were likely to have fallen from their nest in a tree. 

The siblings had to be syringe fed through the night and when they were old enough to take solid food, they were moved to an outdoor enclosure.

They were successfully returned to the wild together after they had developed the ability to survive on their own.

Anyone who discovers an injured or distressed animal should call the Scottish SPCA Animal Helpline on 03000 999 999.