Q: What kind of institution is IFAW BRRC?

A: IFAW BRRC is one of the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW)’s conservation projects in China. IFAW BRRC is a non-profit wildlife rescue institution, which provides medical treatment, care and rehabilitation training to injured and sick raptors.  Raptors will be released into the wild after they have recovered. The funding for the Center comes from the IFAW and public donations.

Q: Why are raptors rescued? What about other animals?

A: In Beijing, raptors account for a large percentage of all animals rescued by various institutions every year. Furthermore, raptors occupy an important place in the ecological system and their numbers are small, so they are considered Class I and Class II nationally protected animals. The Center’s facilities and equipment are specially designed for raptors. IFAW BRRC is not set up to take care of other animals, but its staff can give information about how to help them.   

Q: Can I visit the IFAW BRRC?

A: IFAW BRRC is not a zoo; it is a “hospital” for sick and injured animals who need a quiet environment to recover. So the Center is not open to the public. But if you are interested in the Center, you can contact the Center ahead of time to arrange a visit under the guidance of the Center’s staff. This is to ensure the animals’ safety. 

Q: Can I capture some raptors and send them to you?

A: IFAW BRRC rescues sick and injured raptors that are sent here because they are unable to fly. The Center is not a zoo and does not need to purchase healthy raptors.  

Q: Since IFAW BRRC does scientific research, does it dissect raptors for experiments?

A: The scientific research projects carried out at IFAW BRRC are primarily to study the ecology and the health of these raptors and how environmental pollution hurts them. That is to say, these studies are for the sake of improving raptor aid and rescue. Research samples are taken only when the raptors’ welfare can be guaranteed, that is, without injuring them. For instance, only a small amount of feathers and blood are taken from live raptors (during routine examinations, blood is drawn from every raptor but only a small amount needs to be kept), and tissue samples are collected from dead raptors.  

Q: What do raptors at IFAW BRRC eat?

A: IFAW BRRC provides the raptors with fresh food, such as farmed rabbits, partridges, chickens and powder worm, along with proper nutritional supplements. To accord with animal welfare requirements, vertebrates such as small rabbits must be dead before they are fed to the raptors. The entire animal, including its skin and bones, provide total nutrition, which is lacking in ordinary pork, beef, or mutton.

Q: Why doesn’t IFAW BRRC feed live animals to the raptors?

A: IFAW BRRC complies with animal welfare principles, which means the chicks and rabbits also enjoy the same animal welfare treatment. Enclosed in cages, these small animals do not have the ability to flee from danger as they would in the wild and can only wait with dread to become the raptors’ prey. This is inhumane. Furthermore, the raptors could easily hurt themselves while chasing prey in the relatively small cages. 

Q: Why is euthanasia used?

A: Euthanasia is used to guarantee animal welfare. If a sick or injured raptor is in pain and there is no hope that it can ever recover and be returned to the wild, the Center will euthanize it. A professional veterinarian performs the procedure in accordance with strict and internationally accepted standards. Doing so means animals are spared excessive pain, and also leaves more rescue resources for other raptors, thereby increasing their chances for survival. 

Q: Why is buying raptors not allowed? Isn’t it good to buy them and then set them free?

A: Raptors are Class I and Class II nationally protected animals, and trading of raptors is illegal. Even if done with good intentions, purchasing them from bird traders or restaurants to set them free is not encouraged, because this will encourage the bird traders to catch more wild animals. If you ever encounter illegal trading in raptors, report it to the forestry department. 

Q: Why are individuals not allowed to keep raptors?

A: First, it is illegal for private individuals to keep raptors. Second, raising raptors requires adequate space, equipment, labor and much skill and knowledge. If these conditions are not met, the health of the raptors will be compromised. Of all the sick and injured raptors received by the IFAW BRRC, those raised by humans are in the worst shape. In addition, raising raptors is also quite dangerous to individuals who lack experience and knowledge.

Q: What can I do to help sick or injured raptors?

A: If you discover a sick or injured raptor, please call the IFAW Beijing Raptor Rescue Center hotline (IFAW BRRC – www.brrc.org.cn Tel: 62205666). After giving a report, follow the instructions of the Raptor Center staff in putting the raptor in an appropriately sized carton and putting the carton in a quiet place that is neither too hot or too cold. Be sure to wear gloves to protect yourself from the raptor’s claws or bite. Do not put the raptor in a bird cage, because an angry raptor could easily damage its feathers.