Australian wildlife in ‘harm’s way’ as volunteers left to ‘pick up the pieces’

A consortium of animal protection and campaign groups is urging the government to introduce national rules to protect threatened species exposed to disasters, and to standardise rescue, treatment and rehabilitation. Ken Henry, chair of Wildlife Recovery Australia, is leading calls to coordinate patchy state and territory protections and to seek budget funding for services now largely delivered by volunteers.

Last financial year volunteers answered more than 320,000 calls for help with sick, injured or orphaned wildlife, carried out nearly 130,000 rescue operations and vets assessed 51,000 injured animals. The groups want some rescue services that are currently unpaid to be funded by government to cover veterinary treatment and long-term rehabilitation.

Henry and others say the pressure of climate change and habitat loss has exposed a gap in support.

Australia

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