WIRES

 

 

 

 

The NSW Wildlife Information and Rescue Service (WIRES) is the largest wildlife rescue organisation in Australia. When an echidna is hit by a car, a possum is attacked by a cat or a lizard gets its head stuck in a drink can - WIRES is there to help.

WIRES was established in 1985, when an injured Ibis was found in the heart of Sydney, in Hyde Park. No organisation, government or conservation group could take responsibility for its rescue or care.

Other animal groups, such as the RSPCA, are not equipped to rehabilitate native animals. WIRES quickly established a coordinated network of wildlife carers and rescuers. WIRES now works under a license issued by the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service.

WIRES has its head office in Forestville, Sydney with branches across NSW. Representatives from all branches are part of the Management Committee.

WIRES is governed by a State Management Committee (SMC). The SMC is responsible for coordination of the WIRES organisation, policy matters, financial and legal concerns of WIRES Inc, branch issues, overseeing and employing staff, state wide decisions relating to fundraising, publicity and education and the state wide WIRES committees eg. Animal Care Team.

Across Australia our native wildlife is under threat from loss of habitat, introduced animals and toxic chemicals.

And that’s why WIRES is here - rescuing animals in distress and by using education, research and the media we are helping to turn the tide and give our wildlife another chance.

 

Norma has been a Wires volunteer, caring for injured native animals, since 1991.

After obtaining her carer’s licence, Norma went on to do several specialist courses on possums, baby possums, baby birds, koalas, raptors, macropods and reptiles. She has since cared for thousands of birds and animals.

Norma has written several books as a result of her first-hand knowledge and experience including the Australian Bird Rehabilitation Manual, Identification of Chicks, Nestlings and Fledglings of Australian Birds, Small Mammals of NSW and the Australian Wildbird Rescue manual. These books and manuals sell to wildlife carers throughout every state in Australia.