A few weeks ago, the Lismore App spoke to the Byron Bay Wildlife Hospital (BBWH) about the struggle to keep themselves open as they rely on public funding. This week, they are reaching out for sponsorships.

This region has some incredible wildlife species and corridors that makeup part of our culture. It is a pleasure to take a visitor for a drive to see koalas or spot an echidna on a ramble. This is an opportunity to protect those populations and do something to secure their future in a world where our needs tend to push them to one side.

Despite Australian wildlife being “owned” by the government, there is no government funding providing directly for the care of animals at the BBWH. 

Instead, the NSW government is spending $1.4 million to help fund the new $2.8 million Northern Rivers Wildlife Hospital in Wollongbar, which is due to open in spring 2024.

(Taken when a recent overseas friend visited, we spotted a colony of koalas resting in some trees)

“We don't get any financial support for business as usual operations,” says Russell Mills, the General Manager of Strategy and Story at the BBWH. “We're cognizant of the fact that people care and people want these animals to survive, and that's, that's the value of our service.

“We need to continue to provide this service so that threatened species like koalas, flying foxes, green sea turtles and a wide range of native birds don't become extinct. 

Veterinary bills for wildlife are about equivalent to any pet so when a sick or injured animal is taken in for care, its health is in the hands of donations from the community.

The BBWH contributes to the local economy in a significant way.

“In 2022 we did an economic impact report on our service, and it showed that we produce about $3.2 million of output for the New South Wales economy. That comes from sourcing material, supplies, food, medical equipment, and general consumption.” 

(An endangered Green Sea Turtle in care. Image credit: BBWH)

Sponsorship is usually for corporate or community group interests. Assisting from an individual perspective can come in many forms and can be done at any time - visiting wildlife centres such as the Wildlife Sanctuary, buying products that support wildlife, leaving a legacy in your will, donations and even following them on their socials (links below).

“Sponsorship is something that we seek," Russell added.

“We've been successful in securing some corporate sponsors and community partners, and some of those remain, but some of those partnerships expire.”

The BBWH has refreshed its sponsorship offering, which offers a range of benefits to supporters.

“The prospectus offers packages for the Wildlife Hospital, the Wildlife Sanctuary and the Raptor Recovery Centre, depending on what aligns with the prospective sponsor’s interests and Environmental, Social or Governance aims.”

Here is a sample of the benefits that come with sponsorship:

• highly visible brand exposure on the external walls of the Wildlife Hospital
• use of the hospital’s library of over 3000 professional images and videos of wildlife patients, including koalas, wallabies, eagles, turtles, flying foxes, frogs and snakes
• private tours of the wildlife hospital.
• naming rights sponsors for its newly opened Raptor Recovery Centre.
• brand exposure on in-venue television screens at the Sanctuary
• complimentary conference room hire
• Sanctuary memberships
• promotion to community, government, philanthropic and tourism markets.

(Squirrel glider xray. Image Credit: BBWH)

Full list of sponsorship benefits listed in the prospectus, here.

You can help by jumping on their socials - and who doesn't love cute wildlife shots, and learning a little more about the good things happening in our area:

Facebook 

Instagram

Linked In 

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