(Photo: Israeli Wildlife Hospital)
The Israeli Wildlife Hospital treats many wild birds that live in and migrate across Israel every year. It often needs to provide blood transfusions to injuried birds. Blood can be in short supply, which is why the hospital has created the world's first blood bank for them. Ynetnews reports:
The project, which the hospital says is the first of its kind in the world, is being led by Dr. Elad Smit.
"We already have 16 samples in our blood bank," Smit said. "And now we're considering taking a blood sample from every bird we treat, to aid in the saving of the next bird that would come."
The blood bank has already helped save a common buzzard that was brought to the hospital in serious condition. The blood transfusion the bird received helped it recover, and it has already been released back to nature.
-via Marginal Revolution