Grants totalling more than $32 000 have been awarded to 23 northern Victorian wildlife carers to support their valuable work. As part of the Wildlife Rehabilitator Grants Program, a total of $181 000 has been awarded to 130 carers and operators across Victoria, including 94 shelter operators and 36 foster carers. Kylee Donkers, who runs Koonoomoo Wildlife Rescue with her husband James Leonard, said she was happy to receive the grant, which would help run the voluntary wildlife shelter. Half of the grant we can use for food and medical supplies and the other half to build a misting system to cool down incoming animals, and for some maintenance on our facilities, Ms Donkers said. The wildlife shelter, which is incorporated with another shelter in Yarrawonga, runs with the help of up to a dozen volunteers. Ms Donkers said volunteers did not necessarily help shelter animals; she said some volunteers helped with maintenance, rescue, transport and one even helped knit joey pouches. State Member for Northern Victoria Jaclyn Symes congratulated the 23 northern Victorian grant recipients. These grants support country Victorias accredited wildlife carers who put in their own time and money to rescue and rehabilitate sick or injured wildlife and release them back into the wild, Ms Symes said. We rely on volunteers to look after injured wildlife and release them back into the wild these grants help to cover the costs of this important work. The grants are part of the Victorian Governments $241 000 Wildlife Rehabilitator Grants Program, supporting authorised shelter operators and foster carers who volunteer their time to rehabilitate thousands of sick, injured and orphaned animals for release.