Czechs raise 2.5 million crowns to help save injured wolf
The story of a young wolf found lying in a ditch with serious injuries after being hit by a car moved thousands of Czechs and started a crowdfunding effort to help save the animal’s life.
The injured wolf was found lying helpless in a ditch on a side road in the Karlovy Vary region. The animal had clearly been lying there for several hours and was barely conscious when the mushroom pickers who discovered him alerted the local animal rescue station. The wolf had apparently been hit by a car and the driver failed to report the accident leaving the animal helpless by the roadside. The male wolf was unable to stand, had a broken jaw and an examination soon revealed extensive injuries.
Pictures of the suffering animal immediately went viral and started a crowdfunding effort to help pay for its treatment. Within days, people raised over 2.5 million crowns to pay for the treatment required.
This week the wolf underwent surgery at an orthopedic veterinary clinic in Prague. The operation was successful and assuming there are no post-op complications he will be placed in the Drosera animal rescue station in Bublava, in the Sokolov region.
Vilém Babič from the rescue station says he was overwhelmed by the public response.
"It was amazing. We never even got the chance to ask for donations. People suddenly started sending money of their own accord. We will use all the funds to make him better. Both for his convalescence and for his enclosure. We’ll take good care of him.”
The wolf’s recovery is expected to take several months. And because the animal is young and getting used to the presence of humans, it will not be able to return to the wild.
