Clarity surrounding the rights of wildlife rescuers has emerged since reports surfaced a week ago that many had been threatened by state government officials in fire-affected areas.
Last week, the Express spoke with multiple rescuers attempting to assist burnt wildlife in the the Mount Alexander region. They all said they had been threatened by state government officials when responding to urgent calls in and around Harcourt.
The Express has since viewed an email sent by the Incident Control Centre confirming wildlife rescue responders may enter private properties in the region for the purpose of managing and supporting wildlife welfare at the request and direction of a landholder. However Mount Alexander Regional Park remains closed and is being managed by DEECA.
Ian Slattery, a wildlife rescuer, said government authorities were prohibiting them from assisting injured wildlife, even in areas where blockades weren’t set up.
“The government put numerous rescuers, including me, through advanced bushfire rescue training several years ago but refused to call us up or let us in, choosing to rely on departmental staff who are renowned for euthanising everything” Slattery said.
“Private property owners are calling us, highly distressed with burnt wildlife on their property. These people are in tears, I’m telling you.
“We’re going out to rescues and DEECA [Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action] are arriving and telling us to leave, even threatening arrest.”
Hong-Kong based photojournalist and wildlife trade consultant, Paul Hilton, travelled across fire-affected Victoria recently and took the photo of today’s front page. He said he witnessed devastation and silence.
“I travelled to the region as a conservationist photojournalist hoping to document the aftermath for my ongoing work of documenting our relationship with our native forests and to help raise funds for animal shelters. Instead, I was ordered to leave,” Hilton said.
“When I attempted to photograph a dead koala – one of countless animals killed by the fires – officials from the DEECA arrived and told us to leave immediately.
“It was basically a press blackout,” he said. “I’ve never come up against resistance like this in a democratic society.”
“What disturbed me most was not being silenced, it was what that silence was hiding.
“Wildlife rescuers were being turned away. Injured animals were being left without help. In a country that prides itself on conservation, animals were suffering and dying out of sight, with no accountability and no public record.
“Why are they stopping wildlife rescuers from saving animals that are suffering?”
