Exotic animal charity which rescued emus, snakes and lizards forced to close down

The charity helped rescue Wiggles the emu

A charity which helped to find rescue and rehome exotic animals has closed down due to a lack of funds.

Based in Ribbleton, National Exotics Animal Rescue Service was the country’s only national search and rescue service for escaped or abandoned exotic animals. The volunteer-run group formed relationships with a network of animal rescue groups, wildlife and exotic animal sanctuaries, zoos, as well as the emergency services.

Along with helping to re-home animals, it was involved in search operations and in November helped to track down an emu which had gone missing in Cambridgeshire.

But it has now had to closed down with bosses saying the charity was no longer sustainable.

Announcing the closure in a Facebook post, the charity said: “This hasn’t been a decision that comes lightly, but it has come time we can no longer sustain the company.

“One of the main reasons for closing is the lack of funding. We just do not have enough in our bank to carry on going. With insurances due to come out, along with other expenditures required to run the company, we wouldn’t be able to afford any emergency vet treatments for animals coming into our care.”

The post continued to offer thanks to the charity’s many supporters over the previous years, the foster carers who helped to look after the exotic animals, and the responders and operation team who helped in search and rescue jobs.

It added: “It’s a sad end and not one we wanted, but as they say ‘All good things must come to an end’, and we would rather do it on our terms and on a high note.

“From all of us here at National Exotics, thank you and goodnight.”

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