02 Dec 2015 Numurkah Leader, Numurkah VIC (General News) WILFRID the pocket-size orphaned baby koala can enjoy his milk formula, a er Bohollow Wildlife shelter in Kotupna was awarded a $2,000 State Government grant. e funding was part of a $181,000 Wildlife Rehabilitator Grants Program, awarded to 130 carers and operators across Victoria, including 94 shelter operators and 36 foster carers. Shelter Operator Deb Fowler said it costs $20,000 a year to run Bohollow, and most of it comes out of volunteers pockets. She said the grant will be spent on specialised Australian native wildlife food and milk formulas, to be administered by shelter foster carers who bear the cost. We want to show our appreciation to our foster carers for all their e orts, she said. People believe we are paid. Its not a job, its our passion. Bohollow is currently caring for 52 injured native animals including 14 kangaroo joeys, 17 brush-tail possums, eight magpies, and Wilfrid, a 260g baby koala. Ms Fowler said she o en spends $1,000 a week on vet care supplies, although she stresses Numurkah vets do not the charge the shelter for consultations. Bohollow can also spend $300 a week on fuel to pick up injured animals across northern Victoria, and o en gets 20 call-outs a week. We may travel 400kms in a round trip. Bohollow Shelter covers Swan Hill and Mildura, as there are no carers up there. We o en meet people half-way to pick up rescues. Ms Fowler said she also hopes to buy a trailer with built-in nesting boxes designed to release animals securely back into the bush without stressing them out. We can leave the top open until the animal is ready to leave. It a so -release. She also reminds people that it is illegal for people to look a er native animals, without a permit. She said well-meaning people o en give native animals an unsuitable diet, and the wrong care, which can lead to the animals deaths. Ive seen birds of prey kept in wire cages and then break all their feathers. ey are un-releasable until their feathers grow back. Northern Victoria MP Jaclyn Symes said the grants will support wildlife carers who put in their own time and money to rescue and rehabilitate sick or injured wildlife. We rely on volunteers to look a er injured wildlife and release them back into the wild. ese grants help to cover the costs of this important work. Caption Text: Adorable Bohollow Wildlife Shelter operator Deb Fowler with Wilfrid, the orphaned koala. Copyright Agency licensed copy (www.copyright.com.au)