00:00Another feathery friend rescued thanks to Nacho Otero.
00:06He nursed the kestrel back to health in a Spanish wildlife clinic.
00:10The bird of prey had flown into a fence and injured its leg.
00:14After being tagged, it'll be released.
00:18Releasing them into the wild is the most beautiful moment.
00:25Some fall by the wayside, but all of us here do our best
00:29to ensure as many animals as possible survive.
00:38We're in Mahada Onda, on the outskirts of Madrid,
00:41visiting Europe's largest wildlife veterinary clinic.
00:45In just one year, 6,500 native animals were treated here.
00:51Brought in by hikers or foresters, mainly birds, but also reptiles.
00:57And the odd oinking mammal.
01:02This baby wild boar was found roaming around alone after a hunt.
01:06Most likely its mother was shot.
01:09Wild boars are not protected.
01:11In fact, several places have problems with population control.
01:15Still, they will treat the little squeaker.
01:21We might release this animal in a hunting reserve,
01:24or it might migrate to an area where hunting is allowed.
01:28But it can survive.
01:30We don't decide which animals can be shot and which cannot.
01:34But in this facility, everyone gets a chance.
01:43Another team examines an eagle owl.
01:46The bird was shot. One of its eyes had to be removed.
01:52But vet Fernando González is confident that it can be released back into the wild.
01:58After all, owls are nocturnal and rely mainly on their hearing.
02:08On first examination, we discovered that he had been hit several times, once in the eye.
02:15Unfortunately, we see quite a lot of this here.
02:19Too many protected animals being shot at.
02:26Like all birds of prey, eagle owls are protected in Spain and mustn't be hunted.
02:36It's an environmental crime, and that's how we deal with it.
02:40We perform autopsies and report to the authorities, so the offence can be legally pursued.
02:48This griffon vulture didn't make it. It hit a power line.
02:52Irene López finds severe burns on its wing.
02:56Even electrocutions like this are treated as criminal offences, not as accidents.
03:02Energy companies must take action.
03:08Unfortunately, this happens quite often.
03:11Although we actively search for dangerous spots,
03:13asking energy companies to better insulate their power lines,
03:16birds keep dying, especially the big ones.
03:25Some animals have to stay here for good.
03:28With severe injuries, they wouldn't stand a chance in the wild.
03:35Unlike Nacho's kestrel, which is ready to leave the clinic and show off its abilities in the wild.
03:44It can fly over a hundred kilometres per hour, but its head stays steady.
03:49If it didn't, it wouldn't be able to hunt.
03:52Look, its head always stays still.
03:58The time has almost come.
04:01A thrill that never gets old for Nacho and his colleagues.
04:07It touches you.
04:10No matter the animal, be it inconspicuous or even majestic, it's always something special.
04:18Finally, the moment of truth.
04:27The kestrel soars again.
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