Sometimes we pick up injured or disoriented wild animals and we don’t know what to do with them or how to take care of them. We tell you who to call.
“This week I was walking along a platform when I saw something like a lump that caught my attention because of its iridescent color. When I got closer I was surprised to discover that it was a hummingbird. He wasn’t moving and I thought he was dead. I picked it up and it was still hot. He gave me grief, and I took him to the office, put him in a little box and began to offer him sugar water in a spoon… Within a few hours he was making little noises and flapping his wings! But then I thought, now what do I do with him?”, Ángela* told us.
If this story sounds familiar to you, it is because Bogotanos encounter dozens of wild animals every day. Our city is built on wetlands, that’s why we have a great diversity of birdsalthough we also share our city space with mammals and even reptiles.
It’s okay to try to help defenseless animals, what we shouldn’t do is keep them and try to raise them, because “in our house they do not feel at home”, as the motto of the District Secretary of the Environment says. «We spend all day, every day of the week, picking up animals,» says Johana Izquierdo, a professional at this institution.
So back to Angela’s question*, what do I do if I find a wild animal in the city? In the capital you can call 377 8854, 377 8917 or 435 71 27, there they will schedule the collection of the animal and they will give you tips to take care of it while it is in your hands. You can also contact the Environmental and Ecological Police, at 660 28 75.
Have you ever found a wild animal? Tell us your story!
*Name changed at the request of the source