Call for National Wildlife Protection Reform Gains Momentum in Australia
In the wake of devastating natural disasters, Australia’s wildlife is facing unprecedented threats. Advocates, including former Treasury boss Ken Henry, are urging the government to implement stringent national regulations for protecting vulnerable species.
Following a significant revision of environmental laws, a coalition of animal welfare organizations is pressing the Albanese administration to create uniform rescue and rehabilitation protocols across the nation. They also seek financial support in the upcoming May federal budget to aid groups safeguarding species such as the endangered koalas.
Ken Henry, previously criticized for taking extended leave to care for the rare northern hairy-nosed wombat in 2008, now chairs Wildlife Recovery Australia. He’s leading efforts to unify disparate state and territory wildlife protections under a national framework, aiming to reverse the decline in Australia’s biodiversity.
The proposal also includes government funding for volunteer-led rescue services, which currently struggle to meet demand. Last year alone, volunteers responded to over 320,000 calls for assistance with wildlife, executing nearly 130,000 rescue missions and conducting veterinary assessments for 51,000 injured animals.
The increasing need for these services is attributed to climate change and habitat destruction. Henry stated, “There’s a huge gap at both federal and state level. As a consequence of these pressures, more and more animals are getting in harm’s way. When they get in harm’s way, governments take very little interest. So it is left to volunteers to pick up the pieces and get those animals back into the wild.”
The current system places the burden of caring for injured animals on communities. In some regions, veterinarians are legally required to treat injured wildlife without reimbursement. Henry emphasized the need for a cohesive national strategy, saying, “We need to have a good hard look at what’s going on here. We need a national approach.”
The recent overhaul of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act, inspired by businessman Graeme Samuel’s 2020 review, introduces new environmental standards and accelerates project assessments. It also establishes a new environmental protection agency, set to begin work in July, and will impose national standards on native forest logging within 18 months.
Wildlife Victoria’s CEO, Lisa Palma, asserted that national leadership is crucial for the protection of species like koalas, noting, “Wildlife is a national asset, yet the responsibility to care for injured animals falls almost entirely on underfunded charities and volunteers.”
Dean Huxley from WA Wildlife highlighted the critical state of the volunteer workforce, declaring, “Government investment is not a luxury item any more, it is essential. Without it there is a real risk that injured wildlife will soon have nowhere to go and that is something the community would not accept if it were widely understood.”
The federal budget announcement on May 12 is eagerly anticipated as an opportunity for the government to demonstrate leadership and commitment to wildlife protection in Australia.
Original Story at www.theguardian.com