RIAS/ALDEIA

RIAS/ALDEIA – Centro de Recuperação e Investigação de Animais Selvagens – is a wildlife rehabilitation and research centre based at Quinta de Marim in Olhão, Portugal, within the Ria Formosa Natural Park. Its core mission is to receive, treat, and rehabilitate injured or debilitated wild animals, ultimately returning them to their natural environments. Beyond direct animal care, RIAS/ALDEIA plays an important role in biodiversity research, contributing scientific data to national and European conservation projects. The centre has participated in initiatives such as the LIFE Ilhas Barreira and LIFE Imperial projects, underscoring its engagement with large-scale conservation efforts across southern Portugal and beyond. Education is a central pillar of the organisation's work. RIAS/ALDEIA offers specialised training courses for veterinarians, researchers, and conservation practitioners, including theoretical-practical courses on wildlife necropsy in birds and on the recovery of young wildlife from rescue to release. Schools and educational groups are invited to visit the centre or receive wildlife education sessions on-site. Community engagement is fostered through an innovative animal sponsorship programme, which allows members of the public to support individual animals during their recovery, creating a meaningful connection between citizens and wildlife conservation. Donations and newsletters also keep the wider community connected to the centre's ongoing work. Supported by a network of volunteers, professional staff, and institutional funding partners, RIAS/ALDEIA is a recognised reference point for wildlife conservation in southern Portugal, bridging scientific research, hands-on rehabilitation, and public environmental education.