In FY24, Wildlife Information Rescue and Education Service, known as WIRES, received nearly  900 calls to rescue sick, injured, orphaned and displaced koalas.

Many of these koalas are rescued via WIRES ambulances and transported to the nearest vet, and then, if needed, are then taken to the WIRES rehabilitation centre in NSW, Hawkesbury.

That’s where we met Coco, who was found so disfigured by Chlamydia, one of the leading killers of Koalas in NSW, she couldn’t see.

Coco’s case was called into the WIRES team, who quickly rescued and brought her into care at the WIRES Hawkesbury koala rehabilitation facility.

Thankfully for Coco and the incredible care she received, she now has a second chance at life and has been successfully released back into the wild.

To help more koalas like Coco, The Lott by NSW Lotteries is proud to donate $100,000 towards a new koala rehabilitation facility in south-western NSW.

This centre will significantly reduce travel time for koalas needing urgent care, particularly benefiting from the disease-free, growing koala population in Campbelltown.  

 

Photos credit to John Grant

WIRES Chief Operating Officer Kyla Shelley said the donation would help support their ongoing mission to protect Australia’s iconic wildlife.

"We're so grateful to The Lott for their generous donation to support the rescue and rehabilitation of koalas in South-West Sydney. As koalas are listed as endangered, increasing the number of koalas that we can successfully release back into the wild may be critical for the long-term survival of the species. The new facility will play an integral part in ensuring we can provide best practice care to sick, injured, and orphaned, koalas for generations to come."

The Lott by NSW Lotteries Partnership Manager Liz McPherson emphasised the importance of supporting WIRES in establishing the new rehabilitation centre.

“There’s nothing more special than spotting a koala in its natural habitat, and it’s vital that we do everything possible to safeguard these unique animals. With koalas facing the risk of extinction, we’re proud to extend our support for WIRES for another year,” she said.

“Their work is essential, and we take great pride in helping their mission to protect koalas.”

To find out more about WIRES visit their website or purchase a Play For Purpose ticket to support them.