Metal donation to help koalas

AN enclosure to help treat injured koalas is closer to being built after a recent donation of metal.

Shanhaven Shelter, which works with Ballarat Wildlife Hospital, received sheets of corrugated iron and mesh as well as metal tubing from Camerons this month.

Ballarat Wildlife Rehabilitation and Conservation (BWRC) requested assistance from the business after four koalas required treatment earlier this month.

BWRC president Melissa Morey hoped the enclosure could be built by the end of this month as June was considered a busy time for koala issues.

“Some things need to move quickly because you just don’t know what’s going to come through the door tomorrow,” she said. “So we’ve got to be ready to be able to help support our carers deal with these specialist animals.”

Morey said koalas required special containment due to their social and physical needs.

“Koalas are very good at jumping or leaping from one tree to another,” she said.

“If you don’t have the right enclosure for them, they’re going to get injured. They’re coming into care because they’re potentially already injured.”

Groundwork, concrete and welding still must be completed.

“As soon as the concrete pad’s down and dry enough to be standing on, we can get the enclosure erected,” Morey said.

She said they were thrilled to receive the metal.

“We were asking for a donation either in part or full, because I appreciate that with the cost of doing business these days, companies aren’t always able to donate in full,” she said.

Morey said Camerons did not hesitate.

“We’re very overwhelmed and thankful,” she said.