YCDCo Funds Switch To Solar At Kangaloola Wildlife Shelter

YCDCo supported an initiative to replace a diesel generator with solar power at the Kangaloola Animal Refuge site.

Total Cost: $10,990
YCDCo Contribution: $2,000

The project has a very specific focus – to double the size of the battery storage for Kangaloola Wildlife Shelter.

Sixteen months ago, Kangaloola were donated a solar and battery system – with some internal fund raising contributions. Unfortunately, due to the increasing demand on the Shelter’s caring duties, the number of volunteers has necessarily doubled. As a consequence, the system is not coping through winter; the generation capacity seems adequate, but the system does not have enough storage capacity, without relying too heavily on the back-up generator.

The increasing demand at Kangaloola is consistent with trends across Australia – a doubling of demand every 10 years with the growing effects of climate change, habitat loss and human population growth.

Kangaloola is distant from the day-to-day activity of Yackandandah and its position protects it from the busyness of Yack. Indeed, this more discrete location allows the animals in their care a low stress environment to promote healing. However, the operation is integral to the care of injured, orphaned and sick wildlife across the district. With Yackandandah’s strong focus on sustainability and addressing climate change, the shelter’s work fits within the core principle of caring for the local and broader environment. This is a key concern for the community and provides a service that would not otherwise be present.

Their story has been beautifully told on Radio National and is well worth a listen: https://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/offtrack/the-angel-of-the-bush-kangaloola-wildlife-shelter/10028950

Animals will be the primary beneficiary of this grant and so unfortunately this does not draw in lots of community groups. We do however support many dedicated volunteers, some local and many from distant parts. We are also very fortunate to have an amazing group of people from across the Yackandandah area who recognise what it is we do and so offer strong financial / in-kind / labour and general support. As a background, our efforts are related to the frightening report just released by the UN: globally, species are under enormous pressure. Kangaloola does our bit to slow this extinction advance.