Wildlife Victoria, prolific rescuer at odds over care for injured animals

A rescue group has raised concerns injured animals are “suffering” due to a lack of engagement with volunteers in the Wildlife Victoria system. But the organisation has hit back.

Some of the 70 Surf Coast Wildlife Rescue volunteers, from left, Chelsea McMillan, Duncan McMillan, Malo Linden, 10, Remedios Linden, Luca Linden, 14, Maree Morris, Nico Pegurri and Jason Cichocki. Picture: Alison Wynd

                                    

A Surf Coast wildlife rescue group has raised concerns injured animals are being left suffering without care, claiming Wildlife Victoria does not have 24-7 rescuers in the region.

However, Wildlife Victoria denied the claims and a spokeswoman said its 24-7 emergency response service continued to operate.

Founding member of Surf Coast Wildlife Rescuem Jason Cichocki, said he had been rescuing wildlife for more than 15 years and had worked closely with Wildlife Victoria until about 12 months ago.

“The system was getting worse and animals were suffering,” he said.

“It got to a point where I sent an email to the chief executive stating the system was not working in regards to the safety of rescuers as well as the suffering of animals.

“I said we needed to get together to sort it out and their response was (along the lines of), ‘Thank you for your 10 years of service but we no longer require your services’.

“We are on the ground so I think if there’s issues we are flagging you would engage and try to fix them.”

Mr Cichocki said Wildlife Victoria rescuers often worked with rescuers from other community groups.

“Wildlife Victoria knew we would regularly take a rescue and put it out to our group but now I believe they have sent emails to rescuers saying they are not to send a non-Wildlife Victoria rescuer,” he said.

Surf Coast Wildlife Rescue volunteers from left Jason Cichocki, Malo Linden, 10, Remedios Linden, Luca Linden, 14, Maree Morris, Duncan McMillan Duncan McMillan, Chelsea McMillan and Nico Pegurri are concerned injured animals are being left unattended and suffering. Picture: Alison Wynd

“But that’s how we and other rescues operate and they’ve kicked so many off in the last 12 months for doing that, they’ve decided if you’re not a Wildlife Victoria rescuer you can’t go help animals.

“By doing what they have done we are seeing so many animals being left unattended.”

A Wildlife Victoria spokeswoman said the organisation maintained a skilled, active and dedicated cohort of volunteers, including 70 in the region.

The spokeswoman said volunteers had 24/7 health, wellbeing and safety support and access to ongoing training and a travelling veterinary service every day.

She said it was not appropriate to comment on communications with existing or former volunteers, nor the reasons why a volunteer may be stood down.

“There is no doubt that long term systemic underfunding and a lack of regulation within the wildlife sector can create challenges within wildlife rescue and rehabilitation, affecting volunteers, licensed wildlife shelters, and Wildlife Victoria,” she said.

Winki Wildlife Shelter owner Grant Norris said there was always a need for more volunteers to rescue and care for wildlife.

He said the number of volunteers rescuing in the Surf Coast region was “pretty good” and as a training facilitator, he knew it was growing.

“I have my own shelter but I support Wildlife Victoria 110 per cent because the only way to properly service the wildlife in the region is to be united,” he said.

“Wildlife Victoria has the network (and) a text message system so I get one for any rescue in this region and the system works.”

The content summaries were created with the assistance of AI technology, then edited and approved for publication by an editor.

Originally published as Wildlife Victoria, prolific rescuer at odds over care for injured animals