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Wildlife Rescue Facts

Facebook shows me lots of videos of tourists/random people helping wildlife they've come across in trouble. Great. Glad to see it. 

Just a quick note, though: you don't have to let the creature struggle and panic while you film it to show the dire situation it is in. You CAN put down the camera and just help the creature. (No, I'm serious. It is possible. I wouldn't lie about something so important.) You might want to sit down and prepare yourself, but wildlife can be helped without you filming it at all. Contrary to prevailing opinions, posting it publicly in a pitiful attempt to gain pats on your own back does not actually affect the survival rates of the wildlife you helped. (I know! I know! Blew my mind too!) 

In fact:

  • In many cases, the rescue goes much quicker -- and is less traumatic to wildlife -- if you use both hands instead of keeping one hand on the camera and one eye on whether you've framed yourself well
  • If two people find wildlife in trouble, this should be a welcome development -- but not because it means one person can frame the shot while the other person tries to help. It should mean the creature can be helped that much faster because two people are doing it
The more you know (... do do do doooooo ...).

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