A wildlife hospital opened in the aftermath of the Black Summer bushfires might be forced to close as philanthropic donations dry up.
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Byron Bay Wildlife Hospital in northern NSW said without emergency funding it could close its doors within a month as donations and corporate sponsorships slowed down.
"The economic climate makes it extremely difficult for charities like ours to raise funds to continue operating," hospital founder and chief executive Stephen Van Mil said on Tuesday.
"It's frustrating and sad because it is a vital service for wildlife, including threatened species."
The hospital, which operates from a custom-built semi-trailer, needs about $1.6 million of annual funding to care for injured animals, pay staff and cover administrative costs, its managers say.
A donation drive for the 2023/24 financial year brought in just over $1 million.
State and territory governments are the legal protectors of wildlife, but the care of sick and injured animals often falls to volunteer-run organisations like regional hospitals and Wires, which is Australia's largest rescue service.
In 2021/22, more than 128,000 animals were rescued across NSW, while 8621 volunteers worked in rescue and rehabilitation, according to the latest state snapshot of the sector.
Byron Bay Wildlife Hospital estimates it costs an average of $550 to treat, feed and house an injured animal until they can be released back into the wild.
NSW Environment Minister Penny Sharpe announced consultation across the state's wildlife rehabilitation sector in May.
The 12-month process will take in sector challenges, resourcing and emergency responses to events like the Black Summer bushfires, which killed or displaced billions of animals.
A tranche of funding for koala conservation and care announced in February went to Northern Rivers Wildlife Hospital, with the yet-to-be-opened facility in Wollongbar receiving $1.4 million for construction costs.
Byron Bay Wildlife Hospital general manager of strategy and story Russell Mills said the funding for the region was welcomed, but it seemed "a bit strange" to build one hospital when another was already operational.
"We're scratching our heads as to why the government wouldn't fund an operation with a track record of work, why they wouldn't look at it as favourably as putting money into another one," he told AAP.
Mr Mills said the Byron Bay operation was willing and able to work with the Wollongbar facility, which is located in the same council area.
Australian Associated Press
