Wallonia has approved five new or expanded wildlife rehabilitation centres, boosting both capacity and regional coverage for the care of wild animals, Walloon Nature Minister Anne-Catherine Dalcq's office confirmed on Friday.
The French-speaking region now has 18 approved Centres for the Rehabilitation of Wild Animal Species, known as CREAVES, 15 of which are members of the CREAVES Federation.
These centres care for wild animals that are injured, exhausted or orphaned, provide treatment and, where possible, return them to the wild. In 2025, the approved centres took in 22,593 animals.
This year, heatwaves in June and July led to a sharp rise in the number of young swifts falling from nests, and dehydrated hedgehogs arriving at the centres, including many nursing females.
Among the approved projects, the Namur centre will expand its capacity from 75 to 640 places.
The Ransart centre, in Hainaut, will increase its intake capacity to 180 animals, while the project in Frasnes, also in Hainaut, will provide 25 places.
In Fratin, in Etalle (Luxembourg province), a new centre will offer 945 places and is expected to receive 2,500 animals.
A further centre in Dour will provide 67 places, strengthening coverage in Hainaut.
