Australian birds of prey will benefit from new investment in the Higher Ground Raptor Centre Southern Highlands, a unique wildlife conservation centre in NSW.
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Voluntarily created, founded and managed by experienced raptor rehabilitator and Churchill Fellow Peggy McDonald OAM, the Higher Ground Raptor Centre Southern Highlands (HGRC) is home to the largest free flight aviary complex of its type in the Southern Hemisphere.
HGRC was created to provide suitable pre-release fitness exercise aviaries for birds of prey that have come into care, as well as staged rehabilitation facilities to allow the birds to progress in line with their physical and mental abilities.
Not-for-profit company Wildlife Recovery Australia (WRA) has contracted to acquire the HGRC property where the facilities are located and form a working partnership with Peggy. The transition is planned for late July.
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WRA works to rescue and rehabilitate native wildlife bringing together the veterinarian and wildlife recovery expertise of not-for-profit joint venture partners Byron Bay Wildlife Hospital and Odonata Foundation.
"I am absolutely delighted that WRA are investing and partnering in the Higher Ground Raptor Centre Southern Highlands," Ms McDonald said.
"None of us last forever and it was important for me to find an organisation to continue on my work, and to take it way beyond what one person is capable of doing.
"We have some fabulous plans for the future and it is vital that the centre continues to grow. It simply could not be in better hands heading into the future.
"WRA bring expertise, experience and resources to continue my mission to provide best practice husbandry and facilities essential to the successful rehabilitation and release of these extraordinarily supreme athletes of the sky."
Awarded an OAM in the 2021 Queen's Birthday Honours, Ms McDonald is highly knowledgeable and skilled in Raptor rehabilitation, having been involved for more than 30 years.
WRA founding chairman Dr Ken Henry AC said that Wildlife Recovery Australia was committed to rescue, treatment and recovery of wildlife across Australia.
"Peggy and the team at Higher Ground Raptor Centre have created a unique and important facility for Australian birds of prey," he said.
"It's a real privilege to work with pioneering people like Peggy, and we aim to further develop Higher Ground Raptor Centre through our expertise and networks in veterinary services and predator-proof sanctuaries."
Australia is home to 35 species of raptors, 28 of which are species endemic to Australasia.
Fourteen are listed as vulnerable to critically endangered.
Threats to raptors occur primarily through conflict with humans and the expansion of the built environment, causing destruction, loss or alteration of their habitat.
In NSW alone, more than 1500 a year are hit by cars, caught in barbed wire, shot or caught in rabbit traps and suffer poisoning through pesticides, causing horrendous injuries and often death.
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