Animal Rescue: Australian Cyclone Larry

IFAW is undertaking a wildlife disaster response to the devastation caused by Cyclone Larry in Australia. The cyclone, which hit 20th March '06, ravaged hundreds of houses and buildings as it moved across far north Queensland.

IFAW ER in the Asia Pacific quickly began assessing the disaster and gathering information as to where animal assistance was needed. IFAW discovered that several wildlife rehabilitators and care groups were in great need of financial assistance in order to rebuild damaged infrastructure, procure food for their animals, and to replenish their food stores. The cyclone disrupted the logistics in the region, making it difficult to feed the wildlife already under rehabilitation. The lack of power supply in the initial days after the cyclone's landfall spoiled the food supplies in their stores.

As part of our animal rescue program, IFAW facilitates the networking among wildlife rehabbers in the region and has sponsored the National Wildlife Careers Conference since 2003. This relationship with wildlife rehabilitators has greatly assisted IFAW in channeling our wildlife disaster response efforts after Cyclone Larry.

IFAW's support of US$20,000 to rehabilitation centers will assist individual rehabbers in rebuilding damaged infrastructure such as aviaries and will help replenish food stores at these wildlife centers. It will also enable IFAW to continue to build on the wildlife rehabilitation networks in the region.