The Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions has launched a grants program aimed at benefitting licensed wildlife rehabilitators.
The one-year Wildlife Heroes Rehabilitation and Emergency Grants 2020 will support licensed rehabilitators to care for sick and injured native wildlife, with the aim of releasing them back into the wild.
A total of $150,000 is available, made up of $100,000 from State Government funds and $50,000 from the Foundation for National Parks and Wildlife’s Wildlife Heroes project.
Individuals will be able to apply for up to $500, while groups of two-to-20 people can access up to $2,500 and groups of more than 20 people can seek a maximum of $10,000.
Successful applicants will be able to use funds for relevant items, such as to purchase specialist equipment, animal food, first aid supplies, veterinary support, reference materials and the development and implementation of training courses.
Minister for the Environment, Stephen Dawson said the crucial work of wildlife rehabilitators was highly valued, with many going above and beyond to provide a high standard of care to some of Western Australia’s most vulnerable wildlife.
“By investing in this program, we are supporting not just wildlife rehabilitators, but also some of the State’s most vulnerable wildlife,” Mr Dawson said.
“This has been particularly tough in recent times with wildlife rehabilitation groups unable to raise funds through their usual avenues.”
He said the one-year grants would support successful applicants to have the resources and knowledge they needed to provide native animals with high quality care so they could be successfully released back to the wild.
