A wildlife hospital in Byron Bay, which was established after the devastating Black Summer bushfires, is facing closure due to the New South Wales (NSW) government backing out of a $6 million funding agreement made by the previous administration. The CEO of the hospital, Stephen Van Mil, expressed deep disappointment at the loss of government funding as it would greatly impact the care of native animals. The hospital was created three years ago in response to the extensive injuries suffered by animals during the bushfire disaster. Over 4,000 animals have been treated since then, with more than 1,000 treated in the past six months alone. The hospital, which relied on private donations, is currently the only wildlife hospital of its kind in NSW, apart from two run by Taronga Zoo. However, despite a funding announcement made by former Premier Dominic Perrottet in October 2022, the grant was subsequently denied. The Environment Minister’s spokesperson stated that the submission was deemed not cost-effective, although the hospital argued that an independent review had shown the positive economic impact generated by their work. The hospital has reached out to the federal Environment Minister and is appealing to the public for help to prevent its potential closure.