Help! I found an injured wildlife - what do I do? (mammals & birds)

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Below lists guidance as to what you can do to help but it is by no means comprehensive. The no.1 rule is always call for help but when help is delayed, here are some useful tips. We must also remind the public members that wildlife belong to the wild! so we highly discourage keeping wildlife close to pets / human contact or kept as pets!  

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STEP #01 - Making sure

It is important to be sure that an animal is injured before intervening. Many birds and mammals, especially young ones, are mistakenly taken from their families by well-intended rescuers. Often, family members are nearby waiting to return to their young ones after human danger is gone. How do you tell that an animal is injured or require help?

 

1. Clear signs of injuries, e.g. cuts and wounds, bleeding, limping.

2. Hit by a car, hit a window or caught by a pet.

3. Animal seem dizzy, stumbling when walking.   

 

STEP #02 - Call for help

Once you're sure that the animal is injured and require help, please contact the Wildlife Division at +673 238 1013 or 238 1687 as they are the official government agency responsible for wildlife rescue and rehabilitation in Brunei Darussalam. 

In the event that the above is unreachable, you can also contact our hotline at +673 712 7379.

 

STEP #03 - While waiting, what do I do? 

You may come across wildlife with different types of injuries. While waiting for help, here is a list of useful tips based on typical injuries.

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• SAFETY FIRST! Never attempt to rescue a wildlife if it risks your or the animal's safety.

• Do not touch injured animals with bare hands to avoid transmission of zoonotic diseases. Use clean gloves and towel/jacket when handling wildlife. This protects you and calms the animal. 

• Place animal in a sturdy box with holes and a lid. Make sure to remove the towel before putting the lid on. This will help prevent the animal from getting too hot.  

• If the animal is wet, you can keep a warm pad under the box to keep it warm. 

• It is important to keep injured wildlife away from loud noises, disturbances and pets. 

• Keep injured wildlife hydrated where able. Do not feed the animal unless you are absolutely sure of its diet. 

• When handing over the animal to Wildlife Division / to us, please also provide the following information: 

  • location of where the animal was found ​

  • the state of the animal when it was found

  • any signs of injuries  

  • any other noteworthy observations during your temporary care

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