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October 20, 2026

Northern Rivers Wildlife Hospital doors open

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Lismore MP Janelle Saffin opens the Northern Rivers Wildlife Hospital at Wollongbar with Ninian Gemmel; Madeleine Faught, Chair of the NRWH; and Ricky Cook. Photo Kurt Petersen.

The Northern Rivers Wildlife Hospital (NRWH) has opened its doors at the purpose-built site at Wollongbar to provide care, rehabilitation, and conservation support for injured, sick, and orphaned animals across the Northern Rivers.

The new wildlife hospital is set up to provide wildlife support across the seven local government areas (LGAs) within the Northern Rivers region, along with the new wildlife transport van as ‘time is critical when it comes to wildlife rescue’.

The project has been supported by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), Ereshkigal Foundation, International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), WIRES Wildlife Rescue, and Friends of the Koalas to name a few.

‘Ninian Gemmell and Dr Megan Kearney, owner of Vitality Vet in Bangalow, have been participants since the original “vision” for the NRWH,’ said Madeleine Faught, Chair of the NRWH.

Key contributors to negative outcomes for local wildlife include habitat destruction, pets, and fast drivers.

Training vets

During the opening Ninian stressed the importance of, and need for, ongoing support for the hospital which offers high-level capacity in treatments, research and education.

The NRWH will be partnering with Southern Cross University and their veterinary program and will be helping train some of their vets as well as having staff members focusing on research going forward.

Find out more info at: www.nrwh.com.au.



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