WIRES awards 75 Grants to support wildlife sector

WIRES has announced 75 grant recipients of the 2022 WIRES National Grants Program (NGP) with projects to improve outcomes for Australia’s native animals. The NGP is now in its second year and supports best practice rescue and rehabilitation of wildlife, native species recovery and increase emergency preparedness.

Successful projects include habitat recovery, nest boxes and burrows, population monitoring and surveys, rescue and medical equipment, upgrading of rehabilitation facilities, medical equipment and community engagement programs. The 2022 grants will support a range of species including koalas, bats, macropods, birds, wombats, gliders, platypus and raptors.

WIRES Projects and Grants Manager, Jennie Murray said the grants program had generated strong interest from wildlife and conservation groups across the country.

“It is exciting to see the exceptional work being done by individuals and small to large community groups in addressing the needs of local wildlife. The four-tiered grants program allows us to support the diverse requirements of the sector from the purchase of an incubator or thermal monocular to major habitat regeneration.”

The three special grants recipients are:

The Mikla Lewis OAM Habitat Restoration and Enhancement Grant – BioLinks Alliance (VIC)
Project - Heathcote Local to Landscape

The Heathcote Local to Landscape project will implement conservation measures in an agricultural landscape to provide sustainable, long-term habitat for native fauna. This will include monitoring health of older trees, weed management, revegetation of indigenous flora, provision of nest boxes and ongoing ecological management. A variety of threatened species are present in the area including Swift parrots, Brush-tailed phascogales and Powerful owls.

Pat Connors Avian Grant – Central Tablelands Local Land Services (NSW)
Project - Bringing Back the Glossy Black

The South-eastern Glossy-Black Cockatoo has suffered a significant population decline of 30-50% in recent decades, with the 2019-20 mega fires having resulted in extensive reductions to available feeding and breeding resources. It is estimated that only 7,500 exist in the wild. This innovative project will be the first in the world to use the newly developed Habitech Glossy-Black Cockatoo nest boxes developed specifically for this species. The project will also include two field days and the production and distribution of educational and promotional materials.

Helen George Mammal Grant – Tolga Bat Rescue and Research (QLD)
Project – Wildlife Friendly Fencing in the Wet Tropics

The grant is being used to purchase a pallet of barbless wire and encourage installation around the region. The project will run across the northern QLD wet tropics region, covering about 500kms from the Daintree to Townsville. Barbed wire can be deadly to range of wildlife and it is estimated tens of thousands of animals are entangled each year. The barbless wire will be provided to landowners alongside 'wildlife-friendly fenced property’ signage.  

Photo: Banyula Project - ReForest Now

Grants Overview

Geographic Breakdowns

Project Categories

*some projects fall under multiple categories

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Months

• May 2023 (1)