$700,000 in funds has already been raised by hundreds of generous donors for the construction of a new wildlife hospital at Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary.
The ‘Project RECAP’ campaign began earlier this month with a goal of raising $1 million, which would be matched dollar for dollar by the Elsie Cameron Foundation, for a total of $2 million.
While the campaign is set to end on Friday, Bonorong’s director Greg Irons says he is already ‘extremely pleased’ with the current $356,000 total.
“It’s been an incredible campaign. Thank you to all of our donors so far, we are so grateful,’ he said.
“We know it is a massive ask, but we would love to get to $400k, so the main hospital building is covered.”
“We can keep fundraising for other parts, but what a relief that would be. We are at 948 donors and to see 1000 supporters would be another amazing milestone.”
Irons said he has already signed the building contract and just needs the initial funds for construction to begin.
Bonorong on $2 million fundraising mission for new animal hospital
Tasmania’s first and only fully dedicated 24/7 wildlife hospital is embarking on an ambitious mission to build a larger and state-of-the-art hospital and rehabilitation facility for animals in need, but it won’t be cheap.
Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary helps over 15,000 animals annually, a number only expected to increase by around 500 to 1,000 “every single year”.
Director Greg Irons says the sanctuary is now looking to raise $1 million in donations through a ‘big, bold, and ambitious’ new fundraising campaign to keep up with increase in demand.
“Many people do not realise the costs involved in saving wildlife … Bonorong has shouldered the responsibility and cost of most of our services for over ten years, to the tune of millions of dollars,” Irons said.
“Now we [are reaching] out for help to build a facility that these animals deserve.”
Since 2010, the sanctuary has been self-funded, with an annual expenditure exceeding $1.6 million per year.
He says the Elsie Cameron Foundation has generously committed to match donations up to $1 million, potentially reaching a grand total of $2 million.
The funds will be used to build a state-of-the-art animal hospital with sterile surgery facilities, an intensive care unit, recovery room, quarantine section and critical care and rescue coordination area.
The new hospital will allow for longer operating hours, enabling wildlife with painful injuries to be treated more promptly.
