Thank you to all the veterinary practices who applied for a WIRES Flying-fox Veterinary Vaccination Grant.
As a part of WIRES emergency preparedness program, we established a grant to cover the costs of vaccinations for vet clinic staff nationally, up to $50,000.
Due to the outstanding response to the program WIRES doubled the allocation of funding to over $100,000. This funding supported 100 veterinary practices across the country to vaccinate more than 250 staff this year. This emergency preparedness program was specifically designed to increase veterinary capacity to treat Flying-foxes and it is very encouraging to have so many people engage with the program.
Most applications were received from NSW then QLD with grants being allocated in every state and territory, this is a great outcome for wildlife nationwide. As a part of this grant program, the WIRES Training team and Bat Management Team are developing a booklet for vets which will include information on initial assessment, hydration and pain relief.
The vaccination program will help species including the Spectacled, Grey-headed and Christmas Island Flying-foxes which are all classified as vulnerable to extinction or endangered. The devastating drought and fires in 2019/20 impacted billions of animals and the Grey-headed Flying-fox was identified as one of 119 species requiring urgent intervention. Flying-foxes are important long-range pollinators and crucial to healthy ecosystems and the regeneration of Australian native forests. We hope this grant program will allow Flying-foxes, like the one pictured below, receive the treatment and care they need.
