A tragedy is unfolding right now on the outskirts of Paris… The magnificent Fontainebleau Forest is currently burning… Of the forest’s 25,000 hectares, approximately 2,000 have gone up in smoke in just a few days, despite the tremendous efforts of firefighters trying to contain the arson-caused fires. The forest is burning , and with it , thousands of animals, amphibians, and insects of all kinds are perishing every day… Every second counts! Given the gravity of the situation, the AGEPA association is calling for volunteers with a single goal: to rescue the animals. Here’s what you need to know!
A Call for Volunteers to Rescue the Animals of the Fontainebleau Forest
On July 13, the Association of Animal Protection Investigators ( AGEPA) issued a call for volunteers to save the forest’s animals. The plan is to form teams to work in areas secured by firefighters, so as to avoid any risk.
In the field, volunteers will be supervised by an experienced investigator tasked with directing operations and ensuring safety protocols are followed, so that interventions can take place under the best possible conditions.
Specifically, volunteers will be tasked with searching for and rescuing wild animals in distress, providing first aid (within the limits of their skills, of course), transporting the animals to nearby veterinary clinics or wildlife rescue centers, and assisting on-site teams with logistical support.
Supported by the LPO and FUTUR organizations, this call has already mobilized more than 5,000 volunteers in just a few hours and has likely saved hundreds of lives. To take action and help out, you can sign up using this volunteer registration form, and you can also provide financial support to these organizations right now (and throughout the year).