Animal charity told to move faces uncertain future

A wildlife charity in south-east London says its survival is threatened after being told its lease will not be renewed. The charity has been based at its current premises for two and a half years and urgently needs to relocate or risk closing. The founder says the charity sees large numbers of orphaned baby animals, including fox cubs and baby birds, and also treats animals injured by cars and those deliberately harmed. Without its services, thousands of animals would be left to die on London streets each year. The charity has found alternative premises but needs to raise at least £20,000 to complete the move and continue rehabilitating animals.

"A wildlife charity that saves the lives of thousands of animals in south-east London a year has said its survival is under threat after being told it must leave its current home. Greenwich Wildlife Network (GWN) said the lease on its current premises, where it has been based for two and a half years, would not be renewed, meaning it "urgently needs to relocate or risk losing the charity altogether"."

"Gellel said on a daily basis, especially at this time of year, the charity saw large numbers of orphaned baby animals such as fox cubs and baby birds. "We see a lot of animals hit by cars. We see a lot of animals, sadly, deliberately targeted with catapults or air rifles," she said. She said without GWN's services, thousands of animals would be left to die on London streets every year."

"Gellel said being left "completely without premises" posed a "massive challenge". "We're completely reliant on this space to rehabilitate injured, orphaned and unwell animals," she said. The charity said it had found alternative premises but needed to raise at least 20,000 "to survive this move"."

"She said they were raising funds to move to another building. She said the landlords had been supportive and said the charity could stay until new premises had been found. "It's a devastating blow for all involved," Rae Gellel, who founded the charity, told BBC London."

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