For almost 35 years, Wildlife Animal Rescue and Care Society (ARC) has been dedicated to the care and rehabilitation of native animals across the Central Coast. The cost of providing this vital service will be offset courtesy of a recent windfall from Greater Bank’s #GreaterCentralCoast program.
The group has received $2000 after taking out the public vote in the program’s January round, while runners up Kariong Wanderers Rugby Club and Central Coast Disaster Relief both received $500.
Wildlife ARC receives multiple calls a day to assist in a wide variety of rescues from very diverse and sometimes complex situations across the Central Coast. They then provide care and rehabilitation for the animals before releasing them back into the wild where they belong.
Wildlife ARC volunteer, Suzanne Mannion, said that a growing population means more frequent threats to the welfare of local wildlife.
“Australia has some of the most diverse wildlife in the world, and here on the beautiful Central Coast we are fortunate to live with a huge variety of them. Living in such close proximity to nature is both a blessing and a curse,” Suzanne explained.
“The loss of habitat through increasing human population spreading into what was once natural bushland means that our wildlife face threats everyday, be it through the impact of people, as well as vehicles and domestic pets.
“We rescue and rehabilitate all kinds of birds, mammals and reptiles needing care or treatment until they’re ready to go back into the wild and rely largely on donations to fund our activities.
“The $2,000 from the #GreaterCentralCoast community funding program will help us to cover our ongoing cost of providing care for some of our rescued wildlife.”
Suzanne Mannion, Wildlife ARC volunteer
Greater Bank’s Central Coast Regional Sales Manager, Josh Swetnam, said Wildlife ARC plays a vital role in helping keep native animal populations healthy.
“It’s important that we are mindful of the impact development has on wildlife and try to minimise disruption to their habitat,” Josh said.
“In instances where impacts occur, we are so fortunate to have an organisation such as Wildlife ARC that make an incredible contribution to supporting our local environment.”
Voting in the February round of the #GreaterCentralCoast community funding program is open from 9.00am Monday February 7 until 5.00pm Wednesday 2 March 2022, with Central Coast Dragon Boat Club, The Woy Woy Mural Project and NSW Rural Fire Service - Central Coast Communications Brigade in the running for a share of $3,000 in monthly funding.
The public can vote online at greater.com.au/greatercentralcoast.