Supporting a wildlife sanctuary mission

The group has received funding through two separate rounds of the port authority’s Community Investment Program, firstly to build pens to house animals being rehabilitated and more recently to support the establishment of a classroom.

Southern Ports Interim General Manager – Goldfields Esperance Greg Solly said supporting grassroots organisations was central to the Community Investment Program.

“Working with and alongside our natural environment is at the core of Southern Ports approach, and what Esperance Wildlife Hospital and Sanctuary aims to achieve aligns well with that,” he said.

“Through our Community Investment Program we aim to have an enduring impact across our regions and lending our environment a helping hand is a great way of doing that.

“The work being done by the team at Esperance Wildlife Hospital and Sanctuary to nurture our environment and also educate others about it should be applauded.”

Esperance Wildlife Hospital and Sanctuary (EWHS) was established in 2023 and adjoins Lake Warden wetland, which is recognised as an ecosystem of international importance, rich in birdlife. 

It takes a multi-pronged approach to conservation which focuses on providing care to sick and injured wildlife, planting endemic flora, eradicating invasive species and providing nature-based environmental education.

Director and wildlife rehabilitator Lori-Ann Shibish said the sanctuary was established to “give back to the community” and share their own passion for conservation.

“As environmental education is one of our key pillars we had been doing some ad hoc education activities outside, but we wanted to do some more scientific and biological work,” she said.

“We are establishing our ‘School of the Wild’ and have already hosted 36 Scouts from across Australia, alongside the Esperance Tjaltjraak Junior Rangers, for a tree planting day,” said EWHS's seedling nursery manager and Director Colin Ingram.

“We simply couldn’t achieve these goals without the support of organisations like Southern Ports. They believe in regional communities and their support empowers us to make a real difference together.”

Southern Ports received a record level of applications to its Community Investment Program over the past year and the program is expected to surpass $400,000 of funding for the first time over the coming 12 months.

The program is open to applicants from the South West, Great Southern and Goldfields-Esperance region until Friday 14 August.

Learn more and apply today - Community Investment Program | Southern Ports.

Esperance Wildlife Directors Colin Ingram and Lori-Ann Shibish established Esperance Wildlife Hospital and Sanctuary on land adjoining Lake Warden.