Sponsor a wombat

By Monique Ebrington
HOP into 2010 with a New Year resolution that could help save a life.
Residents can now sponsor orphaned and injured wildlife at Chum Creek Wildlife Shelter.
This year alone the shelter has taken in over 300 animals and carer Belinda Gales said it was the generosity of the community and volunteers that kept the shelter going.
Ms Gales said the kindness of others had helped rebuild the shelters, sheds and pens on the property that were destroyed by the February fires.
“Volunteers have helped us build sheds, aviaries, the wombat enclosure and kangaroo yard, after we lost the wombat enclosure and all the feed and holding sheds in the fires,” Ms Gales said. “It showed enormous care for the animals affected by the bushfires. “Everyone was just so shocked by the amount of animals injured around here.”
Sponsorship would contribute towards the feeding costs, enclosure maintenance, animal rehabilitation and veterinary expenses of the allocated marsupial or bird.
“It’s expensive to maintain the shelter,” she said. “We are fully self-funded, so sponsorship allows the service to continue.”
She said sponsorship recipients would also receive a personalised thankyou card with an image of their ‘adopted’ animal.
Chum Creek Wildlife Shelter is located at 265 Old Chum Creek Road, Healesville.
For more information on the shelter, or to sponsor an animal, please phone Belinda Gales on 5962 6950 or 0402 755 462.