Murcia wildlife centre treats nearly 4,400 animals in 2025

The El Valle Wildlife Recovery Centre, located in Alberca de las Torres, Murcia, has recently announced that in 2025, it cared for nearly 4,400 animals, representing a 41 per cent increase from the previous year. This means that, since 2009, the wildlife recovery centre has successfully carried out more than 34,000 interventions, saving vulnerable species and caring for the animals that call the Region of Murcia home.

Recovering and saving wild animals, releasing them back into their natural habitats

The El Valle Wildlife Recovery Centre is a facility in Murcia that focuses on recovering injured or distressed wild animals and returning them to their natural habitat once they are healthy. It has been in operation since 1984, and currently has a staff of 12 animal-loving professionals.

Record year for bird and reptile rehabilitation

In 2025, according to the El Valle Wildlife Recovery Centre, 1,356 animals were released back into the wild after being assessed and treated by the centre. In total, the centre cared for 4,393 animals during 2025, which is 1,287 more than the previous year.

Birds are far and away the most treated species at the centre, accounting for more than 87 per cent of the recorded treatments during 2025. In total, 2,323 birds were treated at the centre in 2025. There were 869 more birds treated at the centre than during the previous year. The most common species at the centre were the common swift (Apus apus) and the pallid swift (Apus pallidus).

As for reptiles, the spur-thighed tortoise, or Greek tortoise, was treated 292 times at the centre. Among the mammals, the species with the greatest presence was the European hedgehog, with 66 animals treated.

Kind-hearted local citizens drive the majority of animal rescues

These statistics are also notable for an interesting reason: nearly 80 per cent of the wild animals that are taken to the centre are brought there by Murcia citizens who stumbled upon them while enjoying the Region of Murcia’s natural areas.

The centre combating endangerment and extinction in Murcia

Of the 1,356 specimens that were recovered and returned to the wild, 80.3 per cent of the animals belonged to species that were included in various protection lists and catalogues, reinforcing the vital role the centre plays not only in helping injured animals, but conserving the wildlife in Murcia and its endangered species.

Plans to expand the centre with €700K investment

This good news for the local fauna comes along with even better news for the future of the El Valle Wildlife Recovery Centre: the regional government is preparing an investment of approximately €700,000 to modernise and expand the centre. One of the projects bookmarked for this investment includes the creation of a specialised area for the hospitalisation of sea turtles.

Educating locals about the importance of wildlife and conservation

But the work done at the El Valle Wildlife Recovery Centre is not limited to animal rescue and rehabilitation. The facility also carries out important environmental education activities for the locals. Activities offered by the centre allow the public to learn more about the work carried out there, as well as the importance of species conservation and the threats the animals face.

The centre’s Information Service received 14,155 visitors during 2025, and this year, between January and June alone, recorded another 9,400 visitors.