A $2.55 million veterinary facility has opened at the Werribee Open Range Zoo, enabling veterinarians to provide koali-ty care to injured wildlife.
The RSPCA Koala Ward features two large recovery wards, two fully equipped surgery rooms, a neonatal room, food preparation zone, sterilisation room, pharmacy facilities, hay shed, browse fridge, and a quiet room for injured wildlife waiting to be admitted or recovering from surgery.
“This new ward is a great addition to our wildlife hospital network – a world-class facility in Werribee to care for
injured koalas, native birds, reptiles and other creatures in need of specialised,” Werribee MP Tim Pallas said.
Twelve outdoor recovery zones were also been built next to the hospital to house injured koalas and other wildlife during rehabilitation.
Zoos Victoria chief executive Dr Jenny Gray said the Koala Ward will increase capacity to provide expert, compassionate care for sick and injured koalas, native birds, reptiles and mammals in Victoria’s bushfire-prone western regions by up to 400 per cent.
“These world-class facilities will better equip our team of wildlife experts with the resources they need to respond during extreme, climate-related emergencies,” Dr Gray said.
The veterinary facility was funded by philanthropic support, including $1.5million in donations made to RSPCA Victoria during the 2019-20 Black Summer bushfires.
