PROVISION OF HOME AND SANCTUARY for Wildlife, staff,interns, volunteers and place for public to visit and engage with own wildlife is primary objective of ISS.
Rescue, Rehabilitation and Release are the 3 Rs of ISS and it's core work. The ISS has rescued over 1000 animals from crows to a tiger, mostly orphaned and injured seals : trained 'oo's of interns and volunteers and run Ireland's biggest wildlife events over 30 years.
An International School for Wildlife Rehabilitation , sustaining and developing standards of animal care in ever improving and innovative facilities and acting as springboard for further sustainable marine ecotourism projects are all within reach.
ISS is fully compliant with current Chy. no,; money in bank; and option on a 4 acre coastal site.
Founder members and directors want to secure the future of the ISS; it's wildlife welfare and public services; training and career opportunities for young people with animals; and put in place a SUCCESSION PLAN
As principal object (as per memo and arts) to provide Sanctuary for rescued marine wildlife and in particular seals; to provide shelter, rehabilitation and preparation for release for such wildlife ; and to protect, conserve and study such wildlife. To cultivate an interest, understanding and concern for welfare and conservation issues in Ireland in all matters relating to nature, composition, condition and development of the environment and in particular the marine environment and all life forms of whatsoever nature therein contained and to communicate such concerns to the international community.
URGENT AND MOST IMMEDIATE OBJECTIVE IS TO SECURE A HOME AND SUSTAINABLE FUTURE FOR THE SANCTUARY
As subsidiary objectives the Irish Seal Sanctuary(ISS) is engaged in education, outreach , research, policy and development in areas of sustainable marine ecotourism; conservation of coastal communities; recovery to sustainable fisheries etc. ISS with UCD maintains Veterinary website for Seal and Oiled Bird rescue and care, remains active in emergency and on call to authorities..
ISS is active in provision of Biodiversity walks and talks along coast and on harbours for all ; maintenance of a Dead Seal Database ; active in North West Waters Advisory Council (to EU). International Whaling Commission, North Atlantic Salmon Commission and other fora. In many of these activities ISS is also child-led, involved in community development and targets special needs groups. Programmes are built about seals and seal rehabilitation, as window on our wider world.
The unique selling point of the ISS in it's delivery of services over the years has been the marriage of welfare and conservation, directly empowering, assisting and facilitating people in the protection of their own environment and wildlife. This has been achieved by a trained network of volunteers and a "not for profit" structure, providing service, reliability and dependability beyond the scope of purely commercial entities.
The ISS has been the bridge head for wildlife rehabilitation in Ireland and all involved to this day,in greatly expanded network owe their origins to ISS
The challenge for the ISS is to remain relevant in a changed political and commercial climate and respond to ever growing public needs.