Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital calls for action on World Wildlife Day

Given the increasing number of patients that its treats year-on-year, the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital (AZWH) is urging populations to take action to help those who cannot speak for themselves this World Wildlife Day - Tuesday 3rd March.

AZWH notes that in the past year, as a result of unprecedented weather conditions resulting in drought, fire and floods, Australia’s native wildlife has experienced an extremely challenging period.

This year’s World Wildlife Day theme is ‘Sustaining all life on Earth’ and outlines the importance of preserving our environment and its wildlife, which in turn will ensure a future for generations to come.

Noting that World Wildlife Day is an opportunity for all to reflect upon what we can do in our own backyards, Dr Rosie Booth, Director of the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital, states “it is important that we don’t feel helpless given the recent devastation we have seen across our great country. We all have an opportunity to take action and help our precious wildlife.

“Everyone can help wildlife in their backyards by planting native trees and bushes and putting out a shallow container of water. We can all keep our pets inside at night, drive carefully during dawn and dusk, and call 1300 ANIMAL if we see wildlife in need.

“As millions of acres of land has been destroyed by the fires, action on all levels is needed to do what we can to regenerate the impacted areas so that the animals we can save have somewhere to live and can have a future.”

This important day on the United Nations calendar encourages countries from around the world to stand together to achieve their environmental commitments and halt biodiversity loss.

The conservation of wild places and wildlife is fundamental to our survival as human beings. We are intrinsically linked to nature in many ways that people don’t even realise.

Dr Booth adds “for example, flying foxes feed on the nectar and pollen of native blossoms and fruits and are instrumental in the conservation of our environment as they spread seeds and pollinate native plants and crops. Without the flying fox, many of our forest environments will suffer too and ultimately so will people as without forests the quality of air and water also degrades.”

Images: Rosie Booth, Director of the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital (centre) and injured animals at the Hospital (top and below).