Community funds wildlife care
Community funds wildlife care
Injured native wildlife in the Shire are now in even better hands after Fauna Rescue
Whitsundays received a grant from the Whitsunday Regional Council to purchase
specialist care hot boxes. The project has been funded by the Biodiversity Levy, a
$15 levy on rateable properties, which is used to implement measures which improve,
protect, promote and maintain natural resources, biodiversity and the environment in
the Shire.
Fauna Rescue Whitsundays applied for a biodiversity grant in the first round of
funding applications and were successful for 2 projects which met the criteria for
habitat management and education programs.
Project 1 – Biodiversity levy grant has been used to fund the construction of possum
nesting boxes by Proserpine High School students which Fauna Rescue can then
provide to members of the public who have problems co-existing with possums.
Suitable nest boxes can provide an alternative home for possums that reside in houses
where they are not welcome! The boxes can also be used when releasing rehabilitated
possums back to the wild if habitat trees are unavailable.
Project 2 – Funding was used to purchase a number of specialist care hot boxes which
have greatly increased the chances of survival for many sick and injured animals.
Many of the animals that come into care require a constant level of warmth. This is
particularly difficult to achieve with small furless joeys for which the slightest
temperature change can be fatal. Carers are currently forced to use sometimes
ineffective sources of heat such as light globes, hot water bottles and electric blankets
but this has changed with the purchase of hot boxes that provide a thermostatically
regulated constant source of heat. The hot boxes are lent out to volunteer carers and
are an invaluable resource in assisting in the rehabilitation and release of wildlife.
Fauna Rescue Whitsundays sincerely thanks the Whitsunday Regional Council for
their generous assistance in funding these projects.
The National Wildlife Rehabilitation Conference 2007.
Esplanade Hotel, the Venue
|
Pelican at the waterfront |
 |
 |
 |
IFAW Tania Duratovic spoke on projects they are doing worldwide. In Australia, IFAW’s work is focused on both natural and man made disasters one of which included the recent bush fire relief in Victoria. IFAW is also supporting the establishment and operation of State Wildlife Rehabilitation Councils across Australia and encouraging the development of National councils to work for the interests and needs of wildlife rehabilitators. Fauna Rescue Whitsundays would like to thank Coles Cannonvale for their ongoing support and donations of fruit and vegies on a regular basis. This support not only goes towards our huge food costs of feeding wildlife in our care, but also to the feeding of insects such as mealworms and crickets that we breed to feed the wildlife.
