Learn About WIRES - Wildlife Information, Rescue and Education Service

WIRES (Wildlife Information, Rescue and Education Service), Australia’s largest wildlife rescue organisation, has been rescuing and caring for sick, injured, and orphaned native animals since 1985.

Our mission is to rehabilitate and preserve Australian wildlife and inspire others to do the same.

WIRES operates a 24/7 Wildlife Rescue Office providing nationwide advice and assistance, along with full-time mobile responders across Greater Sydney, South-East Queensland, and Tasmania.

WIRES also supports hundreds of wildlife rescue and rehabilitation projects across Australia and works with strategic partners to protect habitats and ensure the long-term survival of native species.

Find out more about how WIRES has been helping wildlife for over 40 years: Read WIRES HISTORY and learn more about WIRES IMPACT.

Recent Highlights and Priorities

In FY26, WIRES assisted over 174,000 animals providing rescue advice and assistance 24/7. WIRES has thousands of volunteers supporting wildlife rescue and care in NSW and the WIRES Emergency Response Team operates across Greater Sydney, South-East Queensland, and Tasmania.

WIRES trains hundreds of new volunteers annually, equipping them with the skills needed for wildlife rescue and care, and thousands of students complete WIRES training courses designed for WIRES volunteers, the national rescue and rehabilitation sector, and veterinary professionals.

WIRES also extensively supports the national rescue and rehabilitation sector through WIRES' National Network, with vital programs assisting thousands of carers, including grants, food support, systems support and disaster relief.

WIRES priorities include improving emergency rescue and response, increasing wildlife rescue and rehabilitation capacity, and supporting wildlife recovery and risk reduction.

Emergency Rescue and Response

Wildlife Rescue Office - operating 24/7, 365 days a year, providing the community, organisations, and government departments, rescue advice and assistance to improve welfare outcomes for over 170,000 native animals annually.
Emergency Response Team - operating across 3 states, WIRES provides emergency vehicles and trained personnel with specialised rescue and safety equipment to respond to urgent wildlife rescue calls and the increasing quantity of natural disasters.
Disaster Relief Program - providing immediate aid nationally to wildlife rescue groups assisting wildlife impacted by major emergency events.

Rescue and Rehabilitation

Volunteer Support and Training - providing extensive support to dozens of groups and thousands of volunteers across Australia, including food support programs, systems access and support, introductory and advanced wildlife training courses, and grant programs.
Welfare Programs - developing new programs and processes to improve rehabilitation and release outcomes for wildlife, such as WIRES Community Mange Treatment Program, and Council Tree Planting Projects to support wildlife in care.
Best Practice Facilities - addressing major gaps to build and operate critical rehabilitation facilities, required to improve outcomes for native species.

Recovery and Risk Reduction

Wildlife Preservation - collaborating on projects, including wildlife research to improve the recovery and conservation of wildlife habitat, and native species in the wild.
Risk-Reduction - implementing programs and campaigns to improve long-term outcomes for wildlife, including road awareness, waste reduction, and advocacy for improved protection.
Community Wildlife Information and Education - building wildlife knowledge and community engagement to secure a wilder future for Australian wildlife.