The Athénas Centre
Assistance to endangered wildlife… If this cry sounds like an emergency today, it is since 1987 that the Athenas Centre has been working to save wildlife by welcoming and caring for injured wild animals before returning them to their natural environment. The centre’s mission also consists in raising public awareness about respect for biodiversity.
Located in the heart of the French Jura in the commune of Etoile, the centre relies on a valuable network of over 285 volunteers who rescue nearly 3,500 animals per year. A number which is unfortunately steadily on the rise as a sad illustration of the impact of our lifestyle on wildlife. But here, at the Athenas Centre, humans and animals reconnect in a form of harmony: mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians in distress are looked after by experienced carers before being returned to their natural environment to resume their life in the wild.
The Athénas Centre is also regularly called on to take in animals that have been seized following their illegal capture. Here, it is faced with another type of issue. These animals, which have been deprived of their freedom for too long or were born in captivity, generally cannot be set free into nature. The centre is thus in charge of finding a sanctuary where these animals will be able to enjoy their twilight years.
Finally and not the least, the Athénas Centre is also the only place in France specialising in the rescuing and care of felines. At the Equestrio Foundation, we have decided to contribute to the development of a structure aimed at improving their accommodation by financing a video surveillance system. The objective? To allow carers to observe rescued lynxes and wild cats, while avoiding too many interactions with humans that could disturb their balance. Here it is…harmony.
Association
The Centre Athénas association was created in 1995 with the aim of contributing to the protection of wildlife and raising public awareness about the fundamental importance of preserving biodiversity. It comprises over 1,000 members from 36 departments.
Its activities include the management of the Athénas Centre in the Jura, which has welcomed more than 34,000 injured wild animals in 33 years of existence and released more than half of them back into nature thanks to the care provided. Driven by a sense of action, the Athénas association is particularly active in the field and develops numerous initiatives to raise awareness, train and share its expertise.
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Photographers, video artists, volunteers, explorers of all kinds, declare their passion for Mother Nature.