IFAW rushes aid in response to catastrophic floods in Central and Eastern Europe

In Kłodzko, a hedgehog rehabilitation centre called ‘Jerzy dla Jeży‘ was flooded and completely destroyed. The facility was covered in a layer of mud and slime, and the owner, well-known hedgehog rehabber Jerzy Gara, recounted that he watched from the attic of the house next door, as all the outside hedgehog houses and other parts of the pens were swept away by the elements.   

Jerzy was able to have 15 of the hedgehogs in his centre's care brought over to Dzika Lekcja, another hedgehog rehabilitation facility in north-central Poland. One of their volunteers drove halfway across Poland all night to pick up the hedgehogs and drop them off at Dzika Lekcja. The remaining hedgehogs from Jerzy’s went to other hedgehog rehabbers in their community.

The team at Dzika Lekcja examined all the rescued hedgehogs to ensure their health and well-being can be properly monitored. The youngest hedgehogs appeared healthy, so they are now in the outside area. The other hedgehogs are still in cages inside. Some of them were taken to a veterinary clinic for a health assessment and were prescribed medical treatment. 

They were already taking care of 7 hedgehogs before the floods. With their animal count suddenly having tripled, Dzika Lekcja are now in urgent need of support in caring for 22 hedgehogs. Due to the upcoming winter period, the hedgehogs will go into hibernation, which means they will need food, water, shelter and veterinary care. Without it, they would not make it through the winter.  

In collaboration with Fundacja PRIMUM (an organisation focused on protecting small wild mammals harmed by human-wildlife conflict), IFAW is issuing a grant to Dzika Lekcja that will cover the costs for four months of animal feed, water, veterinary expenses and new hedgehog pens. Depending on the weather and the health of the hedgehogs, they will be released back into the wild in spring 2025. 

IFAW rushes aid in response to catastrophic floods in Central and Eastern Europe 

September 17, 2024

Storm Boris has caused devastation across Central and Eastern Europe, bringing up to five times the average September rainfall in just four days. The disaster has killed at least 21 people in four countries and left many people and animals without homes. Tens of thousands of people have been displaced, and it’s estimated that thousands of animals are in need of help.  

In response, IFAW is stepping in with an emergency grant. Sava’s Safe Haven, an animal shelter in Romania’s Galati region, is urgently working to help animals in need survive the cold nights and ongoing rain. Homes and fences have been swept away, leaving many animals roaming the streets without shelter. Tragically, many dogs tied up in backyards were unable to escape the rising waters. IFAW’s support will help Sava's Safe Haven cover the costs of food, water, and veterinary care for animals in the most affected villages, including Costache Negri and Cudalbi.  

Sava's Safe Haven plans to distribute food for pets and farm animals, provide shovels to clear mud, and offer buckets and bowls for water. They will also set up dog and cat houses to protect animals from the elements. In addition to animals, they are also helping people. During one of their rescue missions, they found families without access to clean drinking water, so the team quickly returned with potable water for the community.  

The exact number of animals in need is still unclear, but IFAW’s support to organisations like Sava's Safe Haven makes it possible for them to continue their lifesaving work. Every bit of help counts as they work tirelessly to care for animals and people affected by this disaster.