Oceans 2 Earth Volunteers have officially opened international volunteer applications for wildlife rehabilitation and emergency response.
This is a call out for anyone who would like to join the cause and help in this fire ravaged area keeping alive a small group of 50-100 animals until the forest regenerates. Please go to https://oceans2earth.checkfront.com/reserve and apply for the Wildlife Emergency Response & Wombat Refuge project.
While this is a multifaceted challenge that requires urgent action across a number of domains, being on the ground involved in rescue and food drops remains the most critical contribution currently as animals face starvation.
Facts of the Australian Bushfire Devastation
A reported 1.25 billion species have been lost as a result of the Australian bushfires spanning 2019 and 2020. 7 million hectares of land has been burnt to a crisp. 28 people have lost their lives. Over 1,700 homes have been decimated.
The cost continues to be counted as each day passes with the catastrophe venturing beyond 6 continuous months beginning in August of 2019.
This has been the result of inaction on climate change, both on a government and business level to prioritise profit and personal convenience over a need to care for the environment and safeguard it from such disasters.
Not only has the fire itself caused enough death and despair, but the spread of smoke across metropolitan, suburban and rural areas has made existing in the outdoors a genuine hazard, exceeding the air quality index by frightening levels.
The rebuild will accumulate an exhausting amount of energy, sweat and tears as well as billions of dollars provided by public and private entities.
But there is hope as the Australian bushfires have brought out the best in our community members.
Victoria & Tasmanian Animal Volunteering
Victoria stands as one of the states most impacted by the spread of the Australian bushfires. 1.3 million hectares have been burnt to date in this region with the death toll reaching 4 following the passing of a local firefighter.
O2E’s International Animal Volunteering Programs provide key emergency response initiatives courtesy of the Australian Forest Wildlife project, the Tasmanian Wildlife & Penguin Care project and other animal welfare shelters where volunteers are needed to care for the injured, sick and displaced.
These privately owned shelters are home to a range of injured, sick and orphaned Australian wildlife. The natural settings in biodiverse environments empower people to play a key conservation as they immerse themselves into animal care and rehabilitation.
These animal volunteering initiatives provides a safe environment for volunteering with animals, birds and marine life in the heart of rural and coastal communities. Animals to café for include koalas, kangaroos, wombats, wallabies, pademelons, Tasmanian devils, little blue penguins, bandicoots, possums, sugar gliders and a wide variety of domestic bird species.
Having suffered from burns, heat exhaustion and smoke inhalation as well as the loss of their mothers and the habitat around them, volunteers help with the rescue, cleaning, feeding, exercise and provision of medical treatments.
How to be Part of the Rehabilitation Effort
Fortunately,O2E’s International Volunteering Programs are open to all participants who have a love for animals and want to help shelters cope with the influx of animals.
Volunteering with animals following the bushfires is as simple as booking through our website www.oceans2earth.org. Complete the Application Form, selecting your project and your preferred dates.
We are here to help eager travellers wanting to contribute to the devastation and to help them get involved and do what they can.
Donating to the Cause
For those who cannot schedule a placement but still want to do their part to help Australian wildlife get back on their feet, donations are now open.
Financial contributions of all sizes will be greatly valued, providing resources for our dedicated staff members to house, feed, rehabilitate and reintegrate vulnerable species into the wild following the horrendous damage.
Investment from community members is one of the most effective methods of addressing this crisis, empowering O2E operators on the ground with funds that will be invested in a number of key animal conservation area.
For any additional information on how you can get involved and assist in the wake of the fires, including volunteering with animals, combining projects or making a donation to assist in the recovery of the Australian bushfire crisis, please visit us at oceans2earth.org.
Written by Shalee Rae, writer for Oceans 2 Earth Volunteers
Editor’s Note December 2020: thank you to all the volunteers who dropped their lives and joined the rescue efforts, the night time treatments, the food and water drops into the forests, caring for the huge numbers of injured wildlife that came through the shelters. Working in tiring, difficult, and sometimes dangerous situations, they showed great strength of character and determination. True inspirations, one and all.
