The Mogo Wildlife Park has almost completed construction of a wildlife hospital and the park's director hopes it will be the best in Australia.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Chad Staples wanted agencies to rely on the hospital to help sick, injured or orphaned wildlife, just as park staff did during the bushfires.
"We fought very hard to save and protect native animals including koalas, kangaroos, echidnas and wallabies throughout the bushfires, but sadly millions of others perished," Mr Staples said.
"Our newly equipped hospital means we will be able to help our community by providing a new hub for protecting wildlife."
The new wildlife hospital was built with the help of funds donated by Atlas Advisors Australia, a funds manager and investment advisory business, and its investors, an Atlas Advisors Australia spokesperson said.
"Atlas Advisors Australia raised $30,000 for the WWF-Australia's Australian Wildlife and Nature Recovery Fund and Mogo Wildlife Park to help rehabilitate displaced and injured animals and revive natural habitats following the devastating bushfires earlier this year," the spokesperson said.
Mr Staples said existing foundations were repurposed to build the hospital.
The wildlife park was still seeking some diagnostic and medical equipment.
"Smaller veterinary surgeries around the state are critical but they do not have the resources to assist in large scale disasters," he said.
"We hope this new facility will be the best in Australia, enabling governments, environmental and animal services to be able to turn to us at any time to help sick, injured or orphaned animals."
Executive Chairman of Atlas Advisors Australia Guy Hedley said donated funds also went towards the reforestation of fire-damaged wildlife habitats.
"Mogo Wildlife Park is one of many regional organisations playing a vital role in rehabilitating our native fauna and preserving our unique biodiversity," Mr Hedley said.
"We hope to put more funds towards vital causes including helping regional businesses that focus on the environmental protection."
Mr Hedley said many investors who had donated funds were waiting lengthy periods for outcomes via the Investor Visa and Significant Investor Visa programs, which had been stalled because of the travel restrictions imposed amidst COVID-19.
"Reopening these applications could unlock around $100 million in funds to help ailing entrepreneurs including those in regional areas," Mr Hedley said.
"Boosting funding allocations towards venture capital under the complying investment framework and creating a new category for regional investment could channel more much needed funds towards innovative environmental startups in regional areas."
