New collaboration with Menorcan Wildlife Recovery Centre!

Menorca Preservation and GOB Menorca have signed a three-year collaboration agreement aimed at strengthening efforts to protect the island’s rich terrestrial and marine wildlife. A significant portion of this support will focus on enhancing the operations of the Menorcan Wildlife Recovery Centre (CRFSMe), managed by the Consortium for the Recovery of Wildlife in the Balearic Islands (COFIB) under the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Natural Environment, and operated by GOB Menorca. The goal is to improve the quality of rescue services, animal rehabilitation, and successful reintroduction into their natural habitats.

In 2024, the CRFSMe admitted a total of 1,291 animals, comprising 1,220 native wild species and 71 exotic or domestic species

Among the wild animals treated, birds accounted for 53%, reptiles 37%, and mammals 10%. Notably, two red kites (Milvus milvus), a large bird of prey primarily affected by electrocution on power lines, were admitted. This species is resident in the Balearic Islands and is listed as Endangered (EN) in the Spanish Catalogue of Endangered Species.

Rescue Operations for the Balearic Toad in Diverse Habitats

During the 2024 breeding season, three interventions were carried out to protect the Balearic toad (Bufotes balearicus). These included relocating toads from hotel swimming pools in Punta Prima before chlorination, eradicating common duckweed (Lemna minor) from a specially constructed pond to facilitate breeding, and rescuing tadpoles from a natural pond in northern Menorca at risk of drying out before metamorphosis.

This amphibian is endemic to Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza, Corsica, Sardinia, and the Italian Peninsula. In the Balearic Islands, its population is declining due to the loss and degradation of breeding habitats, forcing them to use swimming pools and disused water tanks during winter.

Environmental Education at the CRFSMe: Expanding Knowledge and Respect for Nature

Environmental education is a cornerstone of the CRFSMe’s mission, aiming to raise awareness about the challenges facing Menorca’s wildlife and to empower citizens to actively participate in conservation efforts. In 2024, the centre hosted visits from students of nine educational institutions across Menorca. Guided by the technical team, students learned about the animals admitted, the lives of native species, and the main threats they face due to human activities.

Míriam García Vendrell, Coordinator of the CRFSMe, explains:“Menorca harbours a valuable natural heritage, with unique native fauna and migratory species that find a crucial refuge on the island during summer and winter. Human pressure, climate change, and invasive species seriously threaten their survival. Protecting them is not only an environmental responsibility but also a duty to future generations.”

Rebecca Morris, Executive Director of Menorca Preservation, added: “According to United Nations data, human activity has altered 75% of terrestrial and 66% of marine environments. Therefore, at Menorca Preservation, we consider it essential to continue promoting knowledge of the fauna around us, understanding the threats they face—especially those derived from human actions—and balancing human and animal activities to achieve a real reduction in our impact on their ecosystems.”

About the Menorcan Wildlife Recovery Centre (CRFSMe)

The CRFSMe aims to contribute to the maintenance of the island’s faunal biodiversity by assisting injured or endangered wild animals, alongside its educational and awareness-raising efforts. The centre operates under an agreement with the Consortium for the Recovery of Wildlife in the Balearic Islands (COFIB), part of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Natural Environment of the Balearic Government. It also receives support from the Island Council of Menorca and the municipalities of Ciutadella, Maó, Es Mercadal, Ferreries, and Es Castell. Active collaborators include the Lithica Foundation, which provides the facilities, and the Jaume Pons veterinary clinic, responsible for the veterinary care of all admitted animals.