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History & Programs
 Our
Mission, History & Programs
To rescue, rehabilitate, and release native
wildlife, and to provide sanctuary, individualized care, and
a voice for other animals in need.
Wildlife Rescue & Rehabilitation (WRR)
began as the vision of a young woman in her mid-twenties in
1977 in San Antonio, Texas. Lynn Cuny
saw that many wild animals suffered and died after encounters
with humans and that many could be saved and, with help, returned
to the wild. She also saw that many could not be released
due to the nature of their injuries or other factors, and
that they could live satisfactory lives in a sanctuary.
Demand for WRR services increased so rapidly
that by 1980 it had to move from the Cuny home and backyard
to a four-acre site outside of San Antonio. In 1986 it became
necessary to move again, this time to a 21-acre facility.
In 1999 a large gift from an individual supporter enabled
purchase of a 187-acre site in the Texas Hill Country northwest
of San Antonio onto which WRR moved after several years of
fundraising and construction. This is our permanent home.
Our Mission: To rescue,
rehabilitate, and release native wildlife, and to provide
sanctuary, individualized
care, and a voice
for other animals in need. WRR rescues orphaned, injured,
and displaced wildlife and returns the majority to the wild.
We also provide permanent care in large natural habitats to
farmed and unreleasable wild animals. Among the latter are
indigenous wildlife, non-native animals victimized by the
pet trade and roadside zoos, and retirees from research facilities.
In addition, WRR offers assistance, on a limited basis, to
homeless
companion animals and feral cats and provides advice
and assistance in dealing with human-wildlife conflicts
in a nonlethal manner. WRR staff work to educate the public
about more sustainable and appropriate relations with nature
and wildlife.
We have received over 125,000 native wild
animals since inception. Annually we now have approximately
6,000 animals brought for rehabilitation and respond to 10,000
phone inquiries and requests for help. Around 300 wild animals
are permanent residents because they are unreleasable, and
over 300 more farmed and companion animals have found refuge
here at the WRR Sanctuary. Twenty staff,
as many as eighteen interns
at a time, and over a hundred volunteers
carry out our programs. We are accredited by the Global
Federation of Animal Sanctuaries (GFAS).
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