News

21st November 2019

NSW Wildlife Council: The Compound Effect of Droughts and Fires is Devastating for Wildlife

The NSW Wildlife Council (NWC) wishes to express its heartfelt thanks and recognition for the amazing efforts of all the emergency services and the wildlife first responders who are supporting native wildlife at this extremely challenging and difficult time.

The NWC is the peak body for wildlife rehabilitation in NSW working to achieve optimal outcomes for our wildlife.  More than half of our NWC voluntary wildlife rescue member groups are now within fire-affected areas.    The compound effect of drought, and now fires, is a devastating issue which gravely concerns the NSW Wildlife Council.   

“We understand that the NSW fires have burned through over 1 million hectares so far.  The areas burnt out once represented important and, in some cases, vital, refuge habitat for our native wildlife.  Some wildlife species may never, or be very slow in recovering from this disaster and it may take years to see species return.  Without the primary wildlife food sources and habitat to live in, the hope for their survival is quite dim. ’’

Chair of the NWC, Ms Koosmen.

Our wildlife now faces four compounding threats: 

• the severe and continuing drought has already greatly compromised wildlife:
• latent injuries which are not often apparent in the immediate aftermath of the fire can see more wildlife succumb from the physical and psychological injuries and trauma; 
• the of loss of habitat offering necessary shelter and food sources for wildlife survivors;
• Displaced wildlife from fire-zones are now vulnerable, confused, possibly injured and stressed. 

Please consider placing out shallow bowls of water with a rock or branch, which offers safety for smaller animals to perch and rest whilst they drink.     

Call your local wildlife group for assistance if you see wildlife in need.

As burned areas are declared safe wildlife rescue groups are conducting ‘black walks’ in search of injured wildlife.  

The NSW Wildlife Council is concentrating on ensuring volunteer wildlife groups get the support they need.   NWC is also conscious of the impact on our wildlife front line responders on the ground who are working hard in confronting situations, witnessing injuries and acts of sheer survival by wildlife from the effects of wildfire.  

More than 60% of all NWC wildlife rescue group members are impacted by fires.   A full list of the NWC Wildlife Rescue Group Members are available at https://www.nwc.org.au/resources/injured-wildlife-find-your-nearest-rescue-group/

Media Contacts
Sonja Elwood
Media Officer NWC
Ph: 0424979907

or

Suzy Nethercott-Watson
Vice-Chair NWC
Ph:  0418239343

Welcome to the NSW Wildlife Council Inc Newsletter.

I wish to thank Leesa who kindly took up the role as our Newsletter Editor.

We are very excited to have our Newsletter happening again as we wish to showcase great stories from our many valued member groups and share with you all the issues regarding our wildlife in NSW.

Our NWC Newsletter we hope will give us another tool to use to network further with other groups and the community on all matters dealing with wildlife.

Happy reading everyone, please make sure you share our news with your groups.

The Rehabilitator Survey idenƟfied that a lot of individuals in member groups knew very little or nothing about the NWC and how it represented the wildlife rehabilitation sector. By sharing this Newsletter your members will gain a better understanding of the NWC.

We welcome contributions of news stories and interesƟng animal arƟcles with our Newsletter Editor. The Newsletter is your opportunity to share with other groups in NSW what has been happening in your region.

With warmest regards, Audrey Koosmen. Chair of NSW Wildlife Council Inc. 

In announcing the NWC grants at the group’s Annual General Meeting on Sunday 18 August, re-elected Chair, Audrey Koosmen said:

“how pleased we are to be able to help volunteer wildlife rehabilitators in New South Wales through the Annual Grants Scheme again this year”

She added

“there were fifteen quality grant applications received to be chosen from the total budget of a maximum of $10,000.  The applicants were not identified and a secret ballot was taken of members present at the Council’s weekend meetings.”

All applicants have been informed of the Grants results

Chief Justice of the Land and Environment Court Brian Preston SC handed down his judgment today in a landmark case, refusing approval of a new coal mine to be built just outside of the town of Gloucester in the NSW Upper Hunter Valley.

This is the first time an Australian court has refused consent for a coal mine on the basis of its climate change impacts.

Read the full press release and links to the case here: https://www.edonsw.org.au/gloucester_climate_win?utm_source=eBulletin+list+June+2018&utm_campaign=f265c39d6d-ebull12Feb2019&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_0aa74baca5-f265c39d6d-115165

The 2018 NWC grant winners were announced at the 2018 NWC AGM.

The winners are: