Wild About Wildlife: Rescued native animals find a new home

IF home is where the heart is, then these little guys have nothing to worry about. But life is still a squeeze for this animal rescuer and her menagerie.

A young wombat and kangaroo are being cared for in a caravan by Lisa Milligan. Picture: Rob Leeson

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IF home is where the heart is, then these little guys have nothing to worry about. But life is still a squeeze for animal rescuer Lisa Milligan and her menagerie.

Fed up with the threat of her beloved animals getting shot, the Wild About Wildlife officer shut down her Kilmore rescue centre to find a safer ­option.

She said something had to give after the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning issued her a permit to care for native animals — but then reportedly gave neighbours permits to cull.

“It made no sense,’’ Ms Milligan said.

“I would be sitting there at night hand feeding joeys while shots from high-powered rifles would ring out just 70m from our front door.’’

Ms Milligan and her two teenage children are now ­sharing three caravans while caring for seven orphaned joeys, a wombat, eight rescue dogs, three cats and several native birds that are being nursed back to health.

Three rescued cows, three horses and two pigs are numbered among the collection.

She is now hopeful of finding a new home for the animals with plans to expand.

“We want to find a bigger block and design an animal-friendly house,’’ she said. “I couldn’t imagine life not caring for animals in need.’’

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