By Georgia Parsonson
As part of the Brisbane City Council’s Native Wildlife Carers Grants program, more than $64,000 of funding will be used to provide blankets, beds, incubators, and aviaries for sick and injured animals.
According to Brisbane’s Lord Mayor, Adrian Schrinner, 21 recipients were granted within the latest round of funds. Among them, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA Qld), Orphan Native Animal Rear and Release Association Inc.
“We are committed to supporting groups and individuals in rehabilitating and releasing orphaned, sick and injured native wildlife in Brisbane,” Cr Schrinner said.
“Through these grants, we have previously helped volunteers purchase essential equipment they otherwise couldn’t afford, such as incubators, aviaries, feeding equipment and care blankets.”
This year, $5,000 in funding has been awarded to the RSPCA to purchase soft crates and koala beds, which will be used for ambulance rescue services to ensure the comfort of the animals in transition to the RSPCA QLD Wildlife Hospital at Wacol.
“The hospital at Wacol was built in 2012 to cater for 5000 patients, and it is now responding to over 20,000 annually, so these koala beds will assist greatly in the comfort of the rescue process.”
According to the RSPCA’s Senior Wildlife Veterinarian, Tim Portas, the funding is a welcome boost to their resources. The Wildlife Hospital is the only one in Queensland with specialist vets on hand 24/7 to attend to the region’s sick and injured native animals’ needs.
“The grant will be put towards beds in our intensive care unit allowing convalescing koalas to be comfortable during treatment for injuries sustained in the peri-urban environment such as being hit by cars and attacked by dogs,” Mr Portas said.
“The remainder of the funding will be used to purchase soft walled transport crates, which will be used by both our ambulance officers and in our hospital for the transportation and housing of birds such as pelicans, cormorants, moorhens and quails.
“We are incredibly grateful to Brisbane City Council for this generous donation of funds.”
The Native Wildlife Carers Grants program offers grants that range between $200 and $5000. It is part of the Lord Mayor’s Community Sustainability and Environmental Grants program.
For more information about the Lord Mayor’s Community Sustainability and Environmental Grants program, visit www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/grants.
Or phone (07) 3403 8888