Wildlife Victoria, the state’s leading wildlife rescue organisation, responded to over 189,000 calls from the public and assisted more than 114,000 native animals across 450 species in 2025. Our 24-hour Emergency Response Service (ERS), dedicated veterinary team, and 1,500+ trained volunteers are the backbone of Victoria’s wildlife emergency response.
In response to the fires, Wildlife Victoria submitted formal recommendations to the Inquiry into the 2026 summer fires across Victoria. Our submission highlights gaps in the Wildlife Emergency Support Network (WESN), including communication challenges, underutilisation of veterinary and volunteer expertise, and public confusion about reporting injured wildlife. These issues contributed to delays in care and increased risk for animals, responders and the broader community.
Wildlife Victoria is calling for critical reform, including:
- Formal recognition of Wildlife Victoria as a partner in wildlife emergency response
- Clear command and control frameworks for deployment and accountability
- Expanded use of our Emergency Response Service and veterinary teams during bushfires
- Consistent volunteer management, training, and welfare support
- Improved public communication about authorised responders and reporting pathways
These reforms will ensure that Victoria’s wildlife receives timely, professional care, that volunteers can operate safely and effectively, and that the public knows exactly where to turn for help.
Wildlife Victoria is ready to work with the Victorian government to build a structured, accountable, and effective wildlife emergency response framework—so that every native animal affected by bushfires has the best chance of survival.
Read Wildlife Victoria’s submission to the Inquiry into the 2026 summer fires across Victoria