An injured Koala being treated for burns at the Kangaroo Island Wildlife Park this week. PHOTO/GETTY IMAGES
In response to New Zealanders wanting to donate to Australian wildlife groups working to assist animals injured in the bush fires, Pukaha Mt Bruce National Wildlife Centre has suggested the Zoo and Aquarium
Association [ZAA].
ZAA estimates around one billion animals have been killed so far in the fires. It has a response plan, which Pukaha supports.
Pukaha general manager Emily Court said the people and animals affected by the bushfires have been on everyone’s minds.
“The thoughts of all our staff and volunteers are very much centred on those that are affected by this tragedy,” she said.
“As a wildlife centre committed to conservation, it’s unconscionable to imagine the scale of wildlife lost to these fires, or the set-back to decades of conservation work that is yet to be fully realised.
“Our Pukaha whanau have wanted to help in some way and we felt that supporting ZAA’s plan to co-ordinate a collaborative response to the emerging rescue and rehabilitation needs of affected wildlife for the long-term was the best approach.”
ZAA has mobilised its wildlife conservation fund to support a large-scale, co-ordinated response of zoos, wildlife parks and aquariums to the drought and bushfire crisis.
The funds raised will focus on rescue and rehabilitation of drought and fire-affected Australian native wildlife with the specific end-goal of returning healthy rehabilitated animals back to the wild.
ZAA will spend on science and research geared toward reassessing species status, habitat regeneration and other science-related projects.
Those wanting to donate can do so via the ZAA website found at: www.zooaquarium.org.au/
