NSW Wildlife Information and Rescue Service
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WIRES, the NSW Wildlife Information and Rescue Service, is the largest wildlife rehabilitation charity in Australia. It operates throughout the most populous Australian state, New South Wales.
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[edit] Aims
The main operation of WIRES is to respond to individual public reports of sick, injured or orphaned native wildlife. If necessary, WIRES will rescue (collect) the animal, foster it (provide treatment until it is healthy), and release it back into the wild. WIRES operates under an authority from a government agency, the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), allowing it to hold native animals, a practice which is generally forbidden by law in Australia.
In addition to the rehabilitation of individual animals, WIRES aims to improve native animal welfare generally through:
- Raising awareness in the community and government of threats to native wildlife
- Educating the public about habitat requirements, and encouraging preservation of the natural environment
- Encouraging and undertaking research relevant to the conservation of wildlife and habitat
[edit] History and Background
WIRES was established in 1985, when an injured ibis was found in Hyde Park, Sydney. No organisation, government or conservation group could be found to take responsibility for its care. Other animal welfare groups, such as the RSPCA, were not experienced with the needs of native animals, while the only suitable government agency, the NPWS, did not have the funding and staff levels needed to cope with injured fauna.
A small group of private citizens formed to take on this responsibility and, by learning from one another, built up the knowledge and experience to meet the unique needs of Australian wildlife. The network grew quickly and in 1986 WIRES was officially launched in Sydney. In 1987 it was incorporated as a non-profit organisation.
As at 2005, WIRES has a network of some 2000 volunteer members in 27 branches across NSW. WIRES received around 120,000 phone calls from the public in 2004, and rescued around 60,000 mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians. WIRES works closely with veterinarians, zoos, the NPWS and other animal welfare organisations such as the RSPCA.
[edit] Organisational Structure
All animal collection and fostering is carried out by WIRES' 2000 volunteer members in their own homes, and is privately funded by members. Branches perform fundraising in order to subsidise the costs of animal feed, veterinary supplies, cages, and other expenses incurred by their members.
The WIRES Head Office and the Sydney call centre, referred to as the Rescue Office, are located in the grounds of a Primary School in Forestville, Sydney. There are five full-time staff members and one part-time staff member in Head Office, plus three part-time staff members and approximately 15 volunteers who run the Rescue Office on a roster system, 365 days per year. The call centre dispatches public requests for help to an appropriate member based on the location and type of the animal reported.
WIRES is an incorporated body with a State Management Committee (SMC) consisting of 12 elected members as well as a co-opted member. The SMC oversees the affairs of the organisation and has the same responsibilities as a Board of Directors. WIRES is also a registered charity and a separate group of five Directors oversees public donations through the WIRES Public Gift Fund.
WIRES receives $25,000 per year in government funding and generates the bulk of its operating costs through donations and fundraising activities.
