Local native animals will stand a better chance in the next bushfire emergency with Clarence and Richmond Valley volunteer firefighters to be trained in wildlife first response, Clarence Nationals MP Chris Gulaptis has announced.

“Human life will always be our first responders’ first priority, but roo and koala lives matter too,” Mr Gulaptis said.

“The non-human toll from the black summer bushfires a couple of years ago was a staggering 3 billion with volunteer wildlife rehabilitators rescuing and caring for around 90,000 injured animals.”

Mr Gulaptis said the idea of animal first aid training came from a recommendation of the NSW Bushfire Inquiry to provide guidance for firefighters on handling injured wildlife

“This training will ensure the RFS has the tools to assess and report injured wildlife, as well as apply basic first aid and transfer injured animals to vets and wildlife rehabilitators,” Mr Gulaptis said.

The training has been developed by NSW National Parks and Wildlife and the Taronga Conservation Society and will be available to all firefighters from 1 December 2021.

For more information visit: https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/wildlifehelp