Injured Native Wildlife Needs Your Help!
Media release: 17 July 2008
If you have a little spare time and are looking for an interesting and rewarding way to give something back to the Great Lakes environment, then why not join the local volunteer wildlife rescue group FAWNA (For Australian Wildlife Needing Aid).
FAWNA volunteers run a 24 hour wildlife rescue emergency hotline on 6581 4141.
NPWS Hunter Region Manager Robert Quirk said that the dedicated members of the FAWNA group take on the important job of rehabilitating sick, injured and orphaned native animals, so that they can be eventually returned to the wild.
Mr Quirk said that "Volunteer groups like FAWNA always need more members to help out with this challenging yet rewarding work".
"Native wildlife require specialist care and have needs that are very different from domestic pets."
"Joining a volunteer wildlife group like FAWNA is a great way for people to get the training and support needed to be able to successfully rehabilitate wildlife."
"In addition, to care for wildlife legally, people must be a member of a licenced wildlife carer group," Mr Quirk said.
FAWNA President Carol Riley said that while at times caring for sick and injured wildlife can be very demanding, it is also very rewarding and is a positive way of giving something back to our local environment.
Mrs Riley said "Our group has a vital role in rescuing and rehabilitating wildlife, but we need more people to help out so that we can remain effective.
"Members are called upon to provide both emergency and long-term care for all kinds of native wildlife including a range of birds and reptiles, possums, kangaroos and other small mammals."
"However members don't have to look after wildlife. We also need people to help out with answering phones, book-keeping, fundraising and computing."
"Being a volunteer wildlife carer is a wonderful way to learn through first-hand experience about our unique and diverse wildlife, and it's great to know you've contributed something positive to our world," Mrs Riley said.
On Saturday 9 August 2008, FAWNA is holding a full day training course on wildlife rescue and emergency care for people interested in becoming wildlife carers. Numbers are limited, so people are encouraged to book through FAWNA as soon as possible. Telephone (02) 6585 6470.
Contact: Lawrence Orel