Overview

We respond by:

• assessing the situation and the welfare needs of the animals
• determining the type of intervention required
• maintaining core resources such as trained and experienced personnel, equipment and response plans
• managing these events in a safe and coordinated way

Victorian Emergency Animal Welfare Plan

The Victorian Emergency Animal Welfare Plan (VEAWP) provides principles and policy for use in emergency planning, response and recovery phases for addressing animal welfare in an emergency.  It defines the roles and responsibilities of agencies and organisations and their operational interactions with the overarching objectives of:

• Contributing to enhanced human safety and community resilience through effective planning and management of animals in emergencies; and
• Ensuring animals are better considered and protected from suffering during and immediately following emergencies.
• The plan is a joint responsibility of the Department of Jobs Precincts and regions (DJPR) and DEECA.

Under the plan, we are responsible for the coordination of activities relating to wildlife during emergencies and DJPR is responsible for the coordination of activities relating to all animals other than wildlife.

Wildlife affected by marine pollution

In the event of a major marine pollution emergency, a large number of wildlife may be affected. We coordinate the rescue and rehabilitation of wildlife impacted by a marine pollution emergency, with the support of agencies such as Parks Victoria and Phillip Island Nature Park.

Our wildlife response plan for marine pollution emergencies provides safe procedures and guidelines for the rescue, treatment and rehabilitation of wildlife affected by marine pollution. This plan specifies the operational structure and responsibilities in dealing with affected wildlife. The main aim of rescue operations is to safely return as many animals as possible to the wild.

Response plan activities include the search and rescue of affected wildlife, triage, rehabilitation and post-spill monitoring of populations and habitat. Impacted wildlife is generally treated at the Phillip Island Nature Park or by other wildlife rehabilitators with relevant experience. Wildlife rescue and rehabilitation groups must not self-deploy to search for wildlife.

Visit Sick, injured or orphaned wildlife for a list of wildlife rescue and rehabilitation organisations.