An injured badger has been released back into the wild after being rescued from an Oxford shopping centre earlier this year, as the RSPCA calls for more support. 

The animal was rescued from the first floor of a shopping centre which had closed for refurbishment with builders discovering the disorientated creature inside. 

The RSPCA has not disclosed which shopping centre the badger was found in. 

The RSPCA said the badger, which was rescued earlier this year, was one of the thousands of animals the charity assists each week. 

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Now the charity is calling for Oxfordshire to do its bit as the RSPCA celebrates its 200th birthday - amid new challenges for animals. 

In their 2023 birthday week of June 12-18 alone the charity took 31,947 calls to assist animals in England and Wales.

Some 38 of the incidents dealt with that week were in Oxfordshire, with the charity dealing with a total of 2,086 separate incidents across the county throughout 2023.

The charity has been at the forefront of change throughout its history and has just launched a new tool on its website to help people understand how they can help an animal in need as quickly as possible.

More information about this tool is available at rspca.org.uk/200.

The charity said animals were facing "some of the biggest threats in our history" - including the cost of living crisis, the growth of intensive farming and climate change. 

RSPCA Chief Executive Chris Sherwood said: "Our birthday week was the busiest week of the whole year last year - and we’re proud that, working with the public, we’re continuing to help animals in Oxfordshire and across the country.

“But we know we can't do this alone - and the support of our friends in the animal welfare sector, and the public, is set to be more important than ever as we all look to work together to create a kinder, better world for all animals.

“To keep creating a better world for every animal, we need more people to take action."

Sunday, June 16, marks two centuries since the animal welfare organisation - then the SPCA - was founded at Old Slaughter's Coffee House in London, by a London vicar, Arthur Broome, and 22 founding members, including the MPs William Wilberforce and Richard Martin.

By 1840, Queen Victoria had given permission for the Society to add 'Royal' to its name - and this Royal link was recently maintained with HRH King Charles III confirmed as the charity's new patron.

Chris added: “We’re so proud that - in so many ways - animals’ lives have changed beyond recognition over the last two centuries.

“But we know animals are now facing some of the biggest threats in our history, from climate change to intensive farming, the cost of living and the ongoing effects of the pandemic."