THE State Government’s latest budget will double funding to south-east Queensland’s wildlife hospital network, Environment Minister Meaghan Scanlon has announced.
Visiting Australia Zoo’s wildlife hospital today, Environment Minister Meaghan Scanlon said Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital, the Currumbin Wildlife Hospital, and the RSPCA Wildlife Hospital would collectively receive an additional $3 million over the next two years, in addition to the $1.5 million per annum currently provided to the network.
Of this, the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital, the Currumbin Wildlife Hospital, and the RSPCA Wildlife Hospital will each receive $1 million in 2022-23 and 2023-24.
“Queenslanders have made it clear: they want us to continue to act on the environment, and that’s what this budget does,” Minister Scanlon said.
“The SEQ Wildlife Hospital Network does excellent work with our native animals, with vets, vet nurses and volunteers working round-the-clock to rescue and rehabilitate them so they can be returned to the wild wherever possible.
“Over the next two years we will double the amount of funding that we are providing into the hospital networks so that they can continue to do this really important work,” Environment Minister Meaghan Scanlon said today at Australia Zoo.
“We are also announcing additional funding for our Southeast Queensland koala strategy as well as increased funding for threatened species to do important recovery plans on ground efforts as well as restoration work.”
One of the biggest issues talked about which drastically needs more funding, is koalas with the deadly disease Chlamydia.
Australia Zoo’s Terri Irwin said the funding was critical for chlamydia research.
“We’re finding that while koala populations are diminishing, we are seeing increased numbers at our wildlife hospital…Chlamydia is a disease that spreads rapidly and is increased when an animal is stressed,” she said.
“We want a vaccine that is going to last about five years, we’re in the final development and testing and we need the vaccine to have a long shelf life as well.
“Being able to have a vaccine for all those animals for going back into the wild would be a tremendous step in the right direction.”