North Island Wildlife Recovery Centre — Attraction in Area F (Alberni Highway)

Prefacing my review with the caveat that I understand the rehab work these guys do is really important for wildlife on VI, and they aren't government funded so the entry fee is directly supporting the behind the scenes work.

I thought it was an incredibly odd choice to have the first room to be entered as a taxidermy display room. While I appreciate it is an easy way to study animals up close, I would be surprised if most visitors with an interest in wildlife who chose to visit the centre came to see the deceased rather than the living.

The general layout of the centre is fine, and the signage is pretty good. The paths easy to use, and the map leaflet is clear and easy to read.

I was a little disappointed with the size of some of the enclosures, especially bearing in mind the amount of space the centre has available to them. 'Pet' animals such as the guinea pigs and rabbits did not seem to have access to the outside, or any 'grass' area. The duck runs could have been larger, especially with the larger Muscovy duck.

What particularly brought the issue to my attention was the aviary for the leucistic raven - while it does appear to be longer than for the resident flightless corvids, and does have a heat lamp, the bird was repeatedly flying a short distance back and then crashing itself off the front of the cage. It evidently wasn't happy with where it was.

The rehabilitation barn for the eagles, while very large didn't seem to have much if any enrichment, above the water feature and they were all hunched on one perch down the far end.

It MAY be that the enclosures are perfectly adequate for the residents, however it didn't seem that way to an only partially informed visitor, and a little bit of extra signage to explain the size of the enclosure and why it was appropriate to the animal would dispel this issue if that is the case.

It is really important to have a wildlife support service with so much in the way of wonderful wildlife around the island - I just feel that as the public face of it, the WRC could be...

I have had the pleasure of visiting NIWRC a couple of times now (I'm not local) and have enjoyed my experiences immensely. Most recently I was able to bring my grandmother on a little adventure, she was all smiles ear to ear!! We will be back!

The time and effort put in by the staff and volunteers is incredible, it's no small task to keep a place like this going. The level of care taken for the animals in rehab and in long term care is heartwarming! We especially love the placards with the information on each long term resident! And chatting with team members you can feel their enthusiasm/love for what they do.

As a little side note, I feel it important to add that I was able to help my Grandmother (who has a walker and limited vision) to navigate the whole space. We saw everything, some animals we met twice! I was impressed as I wasn't sure how it would go being an outdoor setting.

Lastly...I read a few of the negative comments and I truly wish people would give their heads a shake. It's dirty? It's based outdoors, we should welcome the fact that they have taken the time to make this space as natural for the animals as possible. The taxidermy aspect...well that isn't my favorite either...but if you stop to read the placards there is a ton of educational information on the animals. Do what I do in that section and walk on by! To the lady complaining about the cost, $75 covers 5 adults at $15 each for an afternoon of entertainment...do you expect it to be free? They are a non-profit with no government funding, I actually thought the price was very reasonable considering. Last comment before I get angry hahah, education on a topic is not 'glorification'.

Thank you to the team of staff and dedicated volunteers as NIWRC,...

Our visit to the North Island Wildlife Recovery Centre was an unforgettable and deeply inspiring experience. From start to finish, everything about the facility radiated care, compassion, and commitment to wildlife.

The exhibits are incredibly well maintained, and it’s clear that the animals here are extremely well cared for. The staff are all exceptionally friendly, knowledgeable, and genuinely passionate about their work. It was heartwarming to see them feeding and tending to the animals, often taking the time to share stories about the residents and their individual journeys.

We had the chance to meet Rae, the black bear, and hear all about her touching story and recovery. We also saw Casey, a majestic bald eagle, as well as the clever and charismatic ravens—Blizzard, Loki, and Thor. Each animal has a unique story, and the staff were more than happy to share them.

The educational segments were a real highlight. Staff members enthusiastically answered questions from both kids and adults, creating an engaging, informative, and welcoming atmosphere.

The centre does amazing work, providing a safe and beautiful sanctuary for animals that cannot be safely released back into the wild. It’s moving to see these animals given a second chance at life, surrounded by people who truly care.

Highly recommend visiting—both educational and uplifting, and a testament to the power of compassion and...