Condition 19 You must provide wildlife in your care with food and water: • that meets the animal’s dietary and nutritional requirements; • in a manner suitable for the rehabilitation of the species; and • that is fresh and clean and stored in a manner that prevents spoilage or contamination.

######## Objective

To ensure wildlife in care obtain a diet of sufficient nutrition, and that allows them to recover, aiding their rehabilitation and eventual release back to the wild.

######## How to comply

Ensure that you know the dietary and nutritional requirements of the species that come into your care. Diet refers to the type and amount of food the wildlife generally eat; nutrition refers to the nutrients and other substances required by the wildlife. These may alter depending on the age of the wildlife, its injuries and its treatment. If you are unsure of the requirements of wildlife that comes into your care, seek advice from a registered veterinary practitioner or a Wildlife Shelter Authorisation holder experienced in the species (e.g. Healesville Sanctuary Wildlife Hospital), or contact your local DELWP Authorised Officer. Provide food and water at a frequency, quality and level appropriate to the species. To prevent transmission of disease, food and water should not be accessible to other animals.

#### Display of wildlife

Condition 20 You must not display wildlife for photography, filming, to the general public or the media without the prior written approval from a DELWP Authorised Officer.

######## Objective

The primary goal of rehabilitation is to restore sick, injured or orphaned wildlife to full health and return them as quickly as possible to the wild for a successful release and life following rehabilitation. This condition is in place to prevent wildlife from becoming too familiar with humans. Several studies have shown that human familiarity and habituation can impact the ability of wildlife to survive in the wild post release. Stress caused by prolonged exposure to humans can also significantly impact on wildlife health and the ability to recover during rehabilitation.

######## How to comply

Ensure that only those authorised to care for wildlife and directly involved in caring for wildlife held under your authorisation have access to areas in which the wildlife is being held and the wildlife themselves. If you wish to display your wildlife (e.g. for photography or education about handling or care techniques), contact a DELWP Authorised Officer to discuss your proposal. Wildlife should not be handled or cared for by people not authorised to do so. DELWP strongly discourages any activity that causes unnecessary stress to animals being rehabilitated, including photography. DELWP acknowledges that photography and social media can be useful tools to educate the public and promote the valuable work you do in caring for native wildlife. Should you wish to take photographs of animals in your care, the following must be adhered to:

- • photographs should only be taken by authorised shelter operators and foster carers,
- • the number of photographs taken of wildlife in care must be kept to an absolute minimum,
- • the time taken to photograph animals in any one session must be less than 5 minutes,
- • the use of camera flashes and additional artificial lighting must be avoided,
- • photographs must not be staged in any way, and

Wildlife Shelter and Foster Carer Authorisation Guide – V5.00 July 2019

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