Princess Charlene joined her brother Gareth Wittstock on Monday at the Calern Astronomical Observatory plateau in Caussols to release a red-footed falcon that had spent more than eight months recovering from injuries that would typically have proved fatal.

The bird had suffered a severe wing fracture and electrocution — a combination of injuries that most often leads to euthanasia. Instead, the team at the Instinct Animal – SOS Faune Sauvage wildlife care centre, led by Lucie Contet and Laura Bailo, kept it alive through intensive care, rehabilitation and innovative medical techniques before returning it to the wild in time to join its species during the current migratory passage between Asia and southern Africa.

The release provided the backdrop for Princess Charlene to announce her patronage of the association — a natural extension of her longstanding commitment to animal welfare, which includes the presidency of the SPA Refuge de Monaco. In her remarks, she paid tribute to the centre’s staff and volunteers for the work they carry out every day on behalf of wild animals in distress.

A centre already handling thousands of cases

Following the release, Princess Charlene visited the Instinct Animal – SOS Faune Sauvage centre in Saint-Cézaire-sur-Siagne, which opened on 30th June 2025 and has already taken in close to 2,000 wild animals. The facility is the only one of its kind in the Alpes-Maritimes and also receives animals from the neighbouring departments of the Var, Alpes-de-Haute-Provence and Hautes-Alpes.

The centre operates year-round with around six members of staff working seven days a week, supported by public subsidies, private donations and corporate sponsorship.

See more in the gallery below. All photos credit: Michael Alesi, Prince’s Palace

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Main photo credit: Michael Alesi, Prince’s Palace