HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0099.013 2020-2022 1
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Hawaii Wildlife Center
P.O. Box 551752 • Kapa'au,HI 96755
April 30, 2021
Re: County of Hawaii Non-Profit Grant Program
To the members of the Council Committee on Human Services and Social Services,
Mahalo for the opportunity to participate in the grant applications as well as for the
recommendation for funding for the Hawaii Wildlife Center. HWC supports this wholeheartedly.
The Hawai'i Wildlife Center provides a place for the community to turn to when assistance with
wildlife rescue is needed,as well as a resource that helps remedy injuries or illnesses that arise
from human-wildlife interactions. Despite the current COVIDI9 pandemic, our native bird and bat
hospital has been more consistently busy now than it has ever been. In 2020 we rescued and cared
for 820 patients,which was a dramatic increase from the 394 patients we saw in 2019 and we are
on track for another busy year.
The dramatically higher patient numbers as well as the wear and tear on our facility which first
opened in 2011 means that patient care costs are increasing and deferred maintenance is no
longer an option. Grant support is critical as it will help us continue to provide the very best
medical and rehabilitative care to our native wildlife patients as we continue to grow.
Our goal is to save as many native birds and bats as we can to get them back into their natural
habitats,which benefits both the animals and the environments they are an integral part of. In
addition,through our patient stories we hope to inspire small changes in behavior within the
community that will better protect native species including using wildlife-safe rodent poisons,
minimizing light pollution,and properly disposing of fishing line and debris.We understand how
fortunate we are in Hawaii to be in a place with unique species found nowhere else on earth.We
want others to also feel that pride and to be compelled to take the actions necessary to save these
species from extinction.
Please let me know if you have any questions. Mahalo nui.
All the best,
4 � v
Linda Elliott
President&Center Director
infoC�ha aiiwildlifecenter.ol:.g
Office: (808) 884-5000
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www.hawaiiwildlifecenter.org