Investigation of Free-Ranging Raptors Discovered Injured or Debilitated in Germany

摘要

Raptor rehabilitation has become an important part of veterinary medicine during the last few years. Most often, only traumatized birds of prey are presented to the veterinarian. Birds weakened by a disease are more likely than healthy birds to get involved in accidents.1"3 It is also possible that traumatized birds are predisposed to secondary infections.4 As a result, veterinarians have to expect a variety of diseases in presented birds, especially those that are not obvious at the time of presentation (as in birds suffering from trauma). Also, some diseases can pose a high risk to the veterinary staff, pet birds, and poultry5'6 and, in case of release, for the wild population. Except for highly endangered birds with an existing breeding program,the long-term goal of any rehabilitation procedure should be the raptors release. Recognizing these facts, successful rehabilitation of birds is not possible without complete diagnostic evaluation and intensive medical care.