Wildlife Heroes

Flood Grant Funding Update – July

At its conclusion, the Wildlife Heroes NSW Flood Emergency Grants will have supported seven NSW volunteer wildlife carer groups to a total of $56,000. Those funded include:

Australian Seabird and Turtle Rescue Inc.	Native Animal Rescue Group (NARG)
Northern Rivers Wildlife Carers (NRWC)	Wildlife Aid
Wildlife in Need of Care (WINC)	Tweed Valley Wildlife Carers
Looking After Our Kosciusko Orphans (LAOKO)

The southern groups, LAOKO and NARG, saw an increase of wombats coming into care. Those wombats that were lucky enough to have escaped their burrows as flood water inundated them, were left to seek shelter anywhere they could find. Many were pushed into neighbouring wombat habitats and were injured during territorial fights. Others sough dry ground under peoples’ houses. Rescue groups reported an increase of wombat mange due to displacement stress and the increase in contact with other wombats.

Items funded that address these issues were: water pumps to clear burrows of flood water, temporary wombat shelters, one-way wombat gates for removing wombats from under houses, camera traps to help locate orphaned joeys and monitor in-situ mange treatment, fuel vouchers for extra travel, animal food, formula, and rehydration fluid.

Wildlife Aid of the Upper Hunter region reported an increase in parasite related illness in their rescues during the extended wet period. Joeys were coming in infested with worms and lice. Many animals, particularly birds were drenched, exhausted, cold and malnourished. There also seemed to be a higher incidence of public in need of snake removal during the wet weather. Possibly snakes were also seeking dryer ground. Items funded included: heating pads and globes, bird cages, snake catching equipment, and first aid kits.

The extensive flooding in the Northern Rivers area saw members of Tweed Valley Wildlife Carers directly impacted by flood waters. Communication was difficult or non-existent during this time. Many veterinary practices were also flooded and unable to take wildlife when they were back up and running due to increased workloads of domestic animals. This meant extra travel for Tweed Valley Wildlife Carers members, detouring around flooded roads, and long drives to take rescues for treatment outside the area. Items funded included: fuel vouchers and animal food and formula.

Flood Grants Awarded – June

The Wildlife Heroes Project began awarding emergency flood grants to wildlife groups in NSW following the devastating floods earlier this year. The first three emergency flood recover grants were awarded in June 2022 with more in the final stages of assessment.

The overall purpose of the 2022 NSW Flood Emergency grant program is to support wildlife rehabilitation groups and the community to:

• Assist in the rescue and rehabilitation of injured wildlife in emergency events
• Support volunteer wildlife rehabilitation groups in emergency response activities

The program aims to achieve the following outputs:

• Increase number of wildlife emergency responders in NSW
• Decrease cost of emergency response to individual carers
• Increase number of wildlife that can be rescued and cared for during an emergency
• Enable wildlife groups to buy appropriate equipment and PPE for emergency response
• Enable replacement of small assets lost in storm or flood event
  
  

Grants have currently been awarded to three wildlife organisations (listed below) to an approximate combinded total of $30,000. As additional grants are assessed, we look forward to sharing these awards, so please continue to watch this space.

Finally, we would like to acknowledge funding provided by the NSW Environmental Trust, as well as all of the amazing FNPW supporters who gave to our flood emergency campaign. Thank you.

Australian Seabird & Turtle Rescue Inc (ASTR)
After a full evacuation and being flooded twice, all animals from ASTR needed to be relocated to either Sea world on the Gold Coast, to Coffs Harbour or to volunteers private residence. ASTR is expecting an increase number of sea turtles as sea grass beds have been destroyed. Numerous fresh water turtles have been washed out to sea and are being found on beaches and brought to ASTR.

Read the “Flooded: Australian Seabird and Turtle Rescue” story (taken from the Wildlife Heroes stories page)

• Fuel vouchers to cover emergency evacuation of all animals in care
• Animal transport cages
• recirculating salt water systems
• Examination table
• Replacement turtle tanks

Northern Rivers Wildlife Carers (NRWC)
Reaching wildlife in distress was particularly challenging during the unprecedented flooding events with inundated roads and landslides throughout the area. Many rescued animals and birds were orphaned and require intense and long-term care. Local vets have been flooded which has meant transporting wildlife long distances for veterinary treatment.

• Wildlife food and formula
• Fuel vouchers

Wildlife in Need of Care (WINC)
Heavy rains saw an increase in rescues of macropods and birds, particularly seabirds. Animals coming into care have been water logged or malnourished, with others being displaced and wandering onto roads where they are hit by vehicles. With another La Nina season predicted next summer, WINC is preparing for the possibility of increased numbers of malnourished flying foxes and microbats.

• Humidicribs
• Wildlife Food
• Bandages
• Flying Fox care equipment
• Fuel vouchers

 

About Wildlife Heroes

The NSW Wildlife Heroes Project is managed by the Foundation for National Parks & Wildlife with funding from the New South Wales Government through its Environmental Trust.