• 105 Queensland wildlife carers and organisations will share in more than $530,000 to help look after sick, injured and orphaned animals
• The funding will help carers purchase new enclosures, incubators, food and equipment
• It builds on almost $40 million by the Palaszczuk Government for direct action on threatened species and koalas

More than 100 wildlife carers from across the state will receive critical funding to help care for vulnerable and threatened species thanks to a funding boost from the Palaszczuk Government.

Animals like koalas, echidnas, shorebirds and kangaroos often need tailor-made care facilities to meet their specific needs including purpose-built enclosures or milk formula that is costly and difficult to source.

This latest round of funding is providing grants of up to $5,000 to individual wildlife carers or grants of up to $10,000 to wildlife carer organisations to purchase milk formula and feed, upgrade facilities and much-needed equipment including ICU incubators.

Quotes attributable to Environment Minister Meaghan Scanlon:

“Our wildlife carers play an integral role in protecting the native animals that live in Queensland.

“We want to support our hardworking carers and build on the almost $40 million the Palaszczuk Government is investing for direct action to protect threatened species and koalas.

“We’ve introduced the strongest koala protections in Queensland’s history, we’re investing a record $262.5 million to expand and create new protected areas and we know there are plenty of carers out there keen to continue to do their bit.”

Quotes attributable to Kerry Schilling, licensed Wildlife Carer based in Woolloongabba:

“Wildlife carers are grateful for this support to cover the costs of feed, milk formula and much-needed equipment.

“For my husband and I, this grant will help us pay for different types of milk formula to feed the baby animals in our care including different species of wallabies and possums.

“The formula we need is expensive, and without the grant money we have no choice but to cover these costs ourselves.

“The babies in care need to be fed multiple times a day and night, and this grant will help cover the costs of their formula for six to eight months.”

Further information:

The full list of successful recipients can be found here

The funding is part of the Palaszczuk Government’s Community Sustainability Action Grant program started in 2016, with more than 643 projects sharing in $22 million.

The program provides vital funding to eligible community organisations and individuals for innovative solutions that address climate change, protect our unique wildlife and conserve our natural and built environment.

ENDS

Media contact: Francis Dela Cruz – 0420 592 078