Bushfire emergency response for wildlife

Following the devastating 2019–20 bushfire season, the NSW Bushfire Inquiry acknowledged the need for an increased focus on wildlife response in bushfires and other natural disasters.

Recommendation 53 of the NSW Bushfire Inquiry 2020 proposed that the NSW Government develop and implement a policy for injured wildlife response, rescue and rehabilitation in bushfires, including developing a framework for interaction with emergency operations and consideration of wildlife response in operational plans.

The NSW Government, through the Environmental Trust (2019–21), the Bushfire Inquiry (2022–24) and the NSW Koala Strategy (2022–24), funded a Bushfire Emergency Response for Wildlife program. The NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service has managed the program, supporting wildlife rehabilitators and the veterinary sector to recover from the 2019–20 bushfire season and prepare for future extreme events.

Since 2020, up to $1 million in funding has been delivered, with an additional $1 million committed to the end of the 2023–24 financial year.

The program deliveries include:

• NPWS collaborating with the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) to develop the Wildlife in Emergencies Sub Plan for the Environmental Services Functional Area. The sub plan was finalised and endorsed by the State Emergency Management Committee in December 2023.
• Developing guidelines for wildlife response during emergencies. These guidelines set triggers and activation standards for wildlife response during emergencies and provide an operational structure for the activation of wildlife response roles such as the Technical Advisor Wildlife, Wildlife Coordinator and Wildlife Operation Manager role. The guidelines also highlight the prerequisites for the safe deployment of Wildlife Emergency Response Teams (WERTs).
• Liaising with wildlife rehabilitation and veterinary organisations, wildlife response workshops and providing training and personal protective equipment to qualified wildlife responders.
• Developing 2 interactive learning modules for staff and stakeholders who would like to learn more about the wildlife response structures and procedures. These online modules are being finalised and will be available for training purposes.
• Developing a short training video that demonstrates the different aspects involved in wildlife rescue at a bushfire and the process of activating and deploying WERTs onto a fire ground.
• Training courses so NSW firefighters can continue to improve their ability to assist wildlife in an emergency – an online 2-hour course and a one-day practical wildlife first response course hosted by Taronga Conservation Society.

These projects continue to be delivered in collaboration with the wildlife rehabilitation, veterinary, firefighting and emergency management sectors.

Wildlife rescue at a bushfire training video