Adelaide Koala & Wildlife Centre has helped 14,000 animals in its ten years of operation – but without significant ongoing support or sponsorship, the nonprofit will likely close down at the end of 2025.
The centre has recently made the difficult but necessary decision to downsize its operations. Thanks to the Plympton Vet Clinic, the wildlife care team has secured a temporary space behind the neighbouring facility, allowing them to continue their vital work on a reduced scale.
As a result of the move, the centre’s original location at 282 Anzac Highway has permanently closed. Wildlife patients will now be admitted through Plympton Vet Clinic at 284 Anzac Highway, Plympton. While this transition provides a temporary lifeline for South Australia’s wildlife, the Centre is navigating significant financial pressures. The cost of medical supplies, veterinary care, and overall operations continues to grow, and with no government funding or stable financial backing, the centre relies solely on donations from the community.
Annie Carmichael, clinic coordinator, said, “It’s far from ideal. We’ve had to move our centre from inside a building to the back of a garage. Public donations will absolutely make a difference, but to sustain the centre in the long run we need significant ongoing funding. We need something big,” Carmichael said.
“We’re really appreciative of everyone who has taken an interest in us because there is a perception in the public that the government has been helping us for ten years, and when they find out that we’ve been doing all of this with private donations, and the public helping, they’re quite stunned that we’ve come this far and treated 14,000 patients without government funding.”
This extraordinary achievement is a testament to the unwavering support of its donors. The team expressed heartfelt gratitude to everyone who has contributed over the years. Each act of kindness has made an immense impact on its ability to treat koalas and other vulnerable wildlife at no cost.
The demand has increased significantly over the years, making it increasingly difficult to provide the support that South Australian wildlife requires. Carmichael said, “The cost to run a centre such as ours, which has naturally grown over the years as wildlife needs have increased, is substantial.”
“When we first started ten years ago, we didn’t see many animals coming through, but now we see significant numbers every day.”
“We’ve now had to downsize from having a vet from 9-5 five days a week, to four hours a day. We’ve literally halved our capacity to support wildlife,” Carmichael said. “We’ve been really touched with the amount of donations we’ve received especially overnight.” You can find a donation page on Adelaide Koala & Wildlife Centre’s website.
Without the Adelaide Koala & Wildlife Centre, it is unclear where Adelaide wildlife will go to receive much needed medical support. “It would be a big gap if we weren’t able to operate in the South Australian community,” Carmichael said. “Carers, local vets, and rescue groups rely on us. If they don’t come to us we’re not sure where they’ll go. Other vets can see wildlife but they don’t have the specific training or resources that allow them to handle the volume of animals in need.”
Looking ahead, the team remains committed to providing the best possible care for as long as they can. They are actively exploring sustainable funding opportunities and welcome support from anyone who can help secure the future of this critical service.
For more information, and to find out how you can help, click here.
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