Volunteers can apply to be a foster carer for injured wildlife.Credit:Jason South
Dr Leanne Wicker, the sanctuary’s senior veterinarian, said there had been terrible impact on our biodiversity and thanked all those who have stepped up to look after wildlife.
“It’s so vital for places like Healesville Sanctuary [and] for the experts that we have here working
together collaboratively with volunteers to get in as early as we can … to give every creature the best possible fighting chance of survival,” Dr Wicker said.
The Andrews government had already committed $200,000 towards wildlife rehabilitators in the past financial past year. But many vets and sanctuaries are already at capacity, with the worst period of the bushfire season yet to come.
Now, additional grants of up to $1000 have been made available to foster carers to assist with the rehabilitation of animals affected by the fires.
“I know that through the extra resources and the absolute love, dedication and skill that has been
combined across volunteers and professionals that they will do all they can to be able to give the
fighting chance of survival to each and every creature that is able to be saved … [but] not all of them
will be,” Wicker said.
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Volunteer foster carers seeking a government grant must have current authorisation from Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning.
Any person can get into contact with DELWP and ask to be considered to operate as a wildlife
rehabilitator.
For more information about eligibility and becoming a foster carer, visit wildlife.vic.gov.au/home/bushfire-response-wildlife-shelters-and-carers.