Wildlife carers receive funding for bird-flu surveillance

Six wildlife-care facilities will share $150,000 in one-off funding to support New Zealand’s bird-flu surveillance and response. The Government announced the funding on 24 September.

Where the support goes

The recipients are Dunedin Wildlife Hospital, Wellington Zoo, Auckland Zoo’s NZCCM, BirdCare Aotearoa, South Island Wildlife Hospital and Massey Wildbase Hospital. The support can help with biosecurity, equipment and capacity to care for sick or injured birds.

If you find birds in trouble

For walkers, campers and beach visitors, the useful action is to report what you see without handling the birds.

• Three or more sick or dead birds: call MPI on 0800 80 99 66.
• One or two sick or injured native birds, or other injured wildlife: call DOC on 0800 362 468.
• Do not touch the birds, take them home or bring them into a DOC office.

Source

Checked 27 September 2026: DOC’s 24 September funding announcement and reporting advice.

Photo credit

Species photograph; it does not depict a diagnosed sick bird. Don Merton / Department of Conservation, CC BY 4.0.