Australian Wildlife Relief

Bushfires in Australia have been burning since September. Australia’s people and wildlife are in crisis. An estimated 1 billion animals, comprised of hundreds of species, and 12 million acres of bush, have been lost to date. Many of these species are unique to the Australian continent.

As a growing international non-profit, Global Conservation Force (GCF) aims to help communities learn how to protect their natural wildlife. Our volunteers span the globe, including our Australia-based Field Medic Trainer for Anti-Poaching Units, Chris Laursen. Chris has given hundreds of hours to teach others the techniques of emergency field care and conservation and we aim to support him while he continues to help wildlife in the burned coastal regions of New South Wales.

The pressure on food and water sources has already started to increase as animals venture in from the burnt forest, hungry and thirsty. With no substantial rain in the forecast until spring, Australia’s drought is a long way from being over. To preserve Australia’s unique biodiversity, GCF is supporting local Australian organizations dedicated to the rehabilitation and rescue of wildlife and the restoration of lost habitat.

Shale Hill Wildlife Project

The Shale Hill Wildlife Project, led by Chris Laursen, focuses on relief for the wildlife that survived the bushfires in coastal New South Wales near Batemans Bay. Shale Hill encompasses 100 acres along the State Forest, which has been badly burnt.  Shale Hill is home to a variety of wildlife and many animal refugees are expected. Marsupials found on Shale Hill include eastern grey kangaroos, swamp wallabies, bandicoots, sugar gliders, great gliders, and brushtail possums. Echidnas and fruit bats are common mammals spotted in the area. There are also many species of amphibians, birds, insects, and reptiles, such as goannas and blue tongues,

The primary activity carried out by the Shale Hill Wildlife Project is the construction and installation of feed stations (ground-based and arboreal), water fountains, and ongoing food supply. Chris Laursen is also undergoing training by WIRES (NSW Wildlife Information, Rescue and Education Service Inc.) to operate a rehabilitation and early release site at Shale Hill.

A plastic box filled with chopped fruits and vegetables sits on the ground next to a tall PVC pipe filled with water

A ground-level feed and water station constructed, installed, and maintained by the Shale Hill Wildlife P

A wire basket holding a nest of chopped fruits and vegetables hangs from a tree

A hanging feeding station built and installed by Shale Hill Wildlife Project leader Chris Laursen.

Black and white image taken at night of a wallaby sniffing a possum standing on the watering station

A swamp wallaby and her joey meet nose to nose with a brushtailed possum on the first night after the feed & water station was installed.

Support Australia’s Wildlife Merchandise

Australia in shades of green and yellow with a geometric koala, platypus, wombat, kangaroo, and

100% of proceeds from our new “Save Australia’s Wildlife” merchandise line go towards wildlife relief efforts in New South Wales.

Support Australia’s Wildlife Merchandise

100% of the funds raised by the Support Australia’s Wildlife line of t-shirt and stickers will fund water and food stations (ground and arboreal) managed by the Shale Hill Wildlife Project, as well as go to rescue and rehabilitation efforts by other Australian non-profits, such as WIRES. T-shirts are currently in production, but our limited-release stickers are available for purchase now.