- Project StatusIn Progress
- Last reviewed
20 June 2024
About the project
Shoalhaven City Council and the University of Sydney (USYD) are collaborating on a research project aimed at developing plans and actions to protect animals during natural disasters.
The project seeks to support communities caring for animals by addressing the gap in current resources and strategies, with a goal of building more resilient and effective plans and actions that will better prepare communities in the event of future bushfires and other natural disasters.
- Shoalhaven City Council's focus area: Communities caring for wildlife
- University of Sydney's focus area: Communities caring for domestic and farm animals
For more information on USYD's focus area of the project, see the USYD Sydney Environment Institute page on Caring for animals during bushfires.
If you would like to receive regular updates about this project and opportunities for engagement as a person who was involved in protecting animals (wildlife, pets or livestock) during the Black Summer Bushfires, please subscribe to this webpage below.
Background
During and after the 2019-20 bushfires, the Shoalhaven community experienced collective grief and trauma because of the injury and loss of pets, livestock and wild animals.
Volunteers in the wildlife rescue sector were inundated with animals, suffered a lack of support, and shortage of access to veterinary expertise, wildlife food, and crucial medical supplies.
Government structures and resources didn't account for animal welfare in a disaster, and this led to parts of the Shoalhaven community coming together to provide care for these animals.
Project objectives
- research the lived experiences of community members and look at factors that may have helped or hindered their efforts during the fires
- run collaborative workshops and interviews with affected communities to identify what support systems worked well and did not work well
- develop formal processes for animal protection, including ways of keeping communities informed, developing emergency plans, and making recommendations for people and organisations to follow
Project funding
The project was managed by the University of Sydney and funded by a Bushfire Recovery Grant from the Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources.
Project timeline and milestones
February 2022 - Project begins
May to July 2022 - Background research, ethics approval, establish relationships with stakeholders
As part of the set-up process for all research projects that work with humans or animals, the project must be approved by the ethics board before it can begin.
August 2022 to January 2023 - Interviews and network mapping
Initial interviews were conducted with people affected by the fires to gain an understanding of community groups' roles in caring for animals during the 2019/20 Black Summer bushfires.
December 2022 to April 2023 - Transcription and analysis of interviews
This process involves making written records of verbal recordings, and analysing the frequently occurring trends, successes and shortcomings in the responses.
May to July 2023 - Community workshops
These workshops were aimed at asking specific questions of community members involved in wildlife care and rehabilitation, and workshopping what they needed in future to be better prepared and deliver better results for animal welfare.
August to December 2023 - Scientific literature review
A literature review involves looking at the latest academic/scientific papers and documentation, to see what knowledge already exists on the effects of megafires on wildlife, as well as the impacts of providing food and water.
December 2023 to March 2024 - Development of the Shoalhaven Wildlife Emergency Management Advice (SWEMA)
Information gathered from the community, government sources and current academic/scientific knowledge was used to develop recommendations for the care of wildlife during bushfires, which is detailed in the project outcomes below.
Project outcomes
'Wildlife in emergencies' webpage
A new web page forthcoming on the Council website providing information and advice for the community, including:
- how to help wildlife in emergencies
- who to contact if you find injured/displaced wildlife
- what government agencies are doing
- government factsheets and resources
- an overview of the new state government 'Wildlife in Emergencies' plan including the new wildlife specific positions that have been created in the emergency management structure
Wildlife Welfare Network
Revitalising the Animal Welfare and Protection Advisory Group, a place to discuss wildlife welfare matters in the Shoalhaven.
Members include council staff, Councillors, wildlife sector volunteers and state government agencies.
Better communication
Creating stronger networks between Council's biodiversity staff, emergency management staff and state government wildlife experts to ensure we are better placed to handle the wildlife response in future major emergencies in the Shoalhaven.
Tailored advice
Sharing more tailored advice for specific groups. For example, ensuring the veterinary clinics and hospitals in the Shoalhaven are aware of the wildlife training periodically provided by Taronga Zoo, and the role they might play as vets and vet nurses in the new emergency management arrangements for wildlife.
Emergency information
New messaging including wildlife welfare advice to the community via social media and the community information hubs, particularly during emergencies.