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Wildlife rehab group Healing Hands Wildlife Care gets funding to carry on important work across the Great Southern

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Shannon SmithAlbany Advertiser
Wildlife coordinator at Healing Hands Wildlife Care Billie-jean Boxall with Sacha the joey in a pouch similar to which they hope to make with their funding.
Camera IconWildlife coordinator at Healing Hands Wildlife Care Billie-jean Boxall with Sacha the joey in a pouch similar to which they hope to make with their funding. Credit: Albany Advertiser, Laurie Benson/Albany Advertiser

Funding wildlife rehabilitation in the Great Southern just got a bit easier for three of the region’s wildlife rehabilitation groups.

The organisations typically rely on donations and fundraisers, but a State Government Wildlife Heroes Wildlife Rehabilitation and Emergency Response Grant has eased the cost burden.

Healing Hands Wildlife Care formed just over two years ago after the closure of two other groups that had been running in the region for more than 22 years.

Based in Albany, volunteers travel to Katanning and surrounding areas to take care of injured and orphaned wildlife.

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Last week, they were named as one of the Great Southern recipients of the grant, alongside Amaris Wildlife Sanctuary in Tenterden and Born Free Wildlife Carers in Albany.

HHWC wildlife co-ordinator Billie-Jean Boxall said that one day, they hoped to cover the entire region.

“As we were all volunteers, the grant has cut down on our stress levels by 120 per cent as finding finance to support our members is our biggest task,” she said.

“As you all know money sadly is always needed to support our dedication and passion. As a group we have plenty of the last two, but the first one is not only hard to come by but so draining, so to receive this wonderful grant is mind-blowing.”

Sacha the joey in a pouch similar to which they hope to make with their funding.
Camera IconSacha the joey in a pouch similar to which they hope to make with their funding. Credit: Laurie Benson/Albany Advertiser

HHWC mainly cares for kangaroos, owls, reptiles, birds, and possums, with most animals restored to good health and released back into the wild. Ms Boxall said it was just coming into joey season, and her group had already cared for many “pinkies”.

“When the vet gives us the green light that these tiny helpless creatures do stand a chance, then we’re certainly there to give them the best go,” she said.

“We certainly have our success rates and that certainly makes the heartache worthwhile.”

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