The
NSW Wildlife Council (NWC) as the peak body for wildlife rehabilitation groups
in NSW works to achieve optimal outcomes for our wildlife.
Since early January 2020
more than 90% of the NWC land-based voluntary wildlife rescue member groups are
affected by fires with the remaining 10% operating in areas experiencing years
of the lowest ever recorded rainfall.
The scale of these
fires is devastating for wildlife with figures of 4.9 million hectares now
reported burnt in NSW. These areas once represented important and,
in some cases, vital, native wildlife refuge habitat.
The NWC Wildlife
Drought and Fire Recovery Fund aims to provide long term recovery support to
its volunteer NWC wildlife rescue and rehabilitation groups in NSW.
The NWC recognises the
long term impact of these 2019/2020 fires and the continuing drought.
Support and care of our wildlife and actions to restore their habitat will be
needed for months and years.
Our
wildlife now faces three compounding threats:
- the ongoing severe drought has already greatly compromised wildlife and reduced the quality and availability of feed
- the initial loss of wildlife from the fires; followed by the cumulative effects as they succumb to injury and psychological trauma.
- the of loss of habitat offering necessary shelter and the food resources needed for survival
Displaced surviving
wildlife from fire-zones is now vulnerable, confused, possibly injured and
stressed.
The NWC is grateful for
the generous public support to our wildlife during this very challenging time
and asks for continued support to our member groups through the NWC Wildlife
Drought and Fire Recovery Fund.
NWC land-based rescue
groups that are fire affected include:
NWC Land Based Rescue Groups in Severe Drought: