14/12/00
A new centrally co-ordinated system to rescue sick, injured and orphaned native animals across Western Australia was launched by Environment Minister Cheryl Edwardes today.
“Every day people across the State telephone the Department of Conservation and Land Management (CALM) the police, councils, shires, Government authorities, veterinarians and the RSPCA to report sick, orphaned or injured wildlife,”
Mrs Edwardes said.
“Last year 11,000 calls were made to CALM’s Perth-based wildlife protection section. That’s 30 calls a day.”
The new service - named WILDCARE - was created by CALM so people have an easy way of getting help for animals.
Mrs Edwardes said the new service was staffed by volunteers at CALM’s Kensington offices. It would run 24 hours a day, seven days a week, diverting to rostered home telephones after hours and at weekends.
“It’s a wonderful effort from people who care enough about wildlife to volunteer their time for something such as Wildcare,”
she said.
“Animals such as parrots, kangaroos, bandicoots, seabirds, sea mammals, woylies, possums and others are found on the sides of the road, in parks, in suburbs, in paddocks and in forests with injuries or illnesses.
“People who find animals are often very distressed because they don’t know who to call for help. Often they phone agencies that don’t provide help for animals. This number will be a one stop emergency number to get immediate advice and assistance.”
Volunteers will handle inquiries and can refer callers to one of CALM’s 560 registered wildlife carers, who collect and rehabilitate the animal before releasing it back into its native habitat.
The Wildcare number is (08) 9474 9055.
Media contacts:
Steve Manchee (Minister) on 9421 7777
Margaret Buckland (CALM) on 9334 0251
