Community & Business
2 April, 2025
Wildlife sanctuary given the boot
ONE of the largest wildlife rescue and rehabilitation services in Queensland is being forced to find a new home for more than 40 orphaned joeys after it was given 11 weeks’ notice to relocate from its site just outside of Mareeba.
The Agile Project – Wildlife Rescue has operated its sanctuary off Kay Road for the past two and a half years but has now been told to get out, claiming it is because Kanjini Co-Op Limited, who owns the land, was recently given the go ahead for a tourism development on the property.
“Our enclosures and wildlife sanctuary have now been described as an ‘incompatible use in this location’,” Agile Project founder Shai Ager said.
“This incredible facility, that has taken years, hundreds of people, and thousands of hours to create, is at threat of being destroyed.
“Over $100,000 of grants have gone into these enclosures since we moved here.
“If we’re forced to shut down our sanctuary and vacate the property, the region will lose a critical wildlife care facility at a time when the need is greater than ever.
“We’ve successfully rehabilitated hundreds of animals as one of the state’s largest non-profit wildlife groups.
“With other sites either destroyed from flooding or at capacity, wildlife carers from across Queensland are desperate for us to take in more animals, even though they know our situation, but we just can’t.
“My partner and I have put our heart and soul into this, worked additional jobs to cover rent, and carried out fundraising for our non-profit.
“We refuse to be forced to release joeys earlier than they’re ready. Some are still several months off being near the age of full release,” she said.
The wildlife group is well-known for successfully completing Australia’s largest macropod relocation in 2021, relocating 400 wallabies from the Trinity Beach area to safer environments.
They now monitor young wallabies and other macropods for release back into the wild, as well as many other native species such as possums, reptiles and birds.
The group was issued with a notice to leave on 14 March, requiring them to be out by the end of their current lease on 1 June.
The news came as a shock to Ms Ager, who was under the impression the Kanjini property would be a long-term site for her sanctuary.
She also claims there was no transparency between the Co-Op and the group regarding their intentions to develop the land.
“I had expressed my strong desire to eventually purchase this place and (a member of the Co-Op) said it was possible. That was all in verbal agreement,” Ms Ager said.
“Not once did we get notification that the development had been approved. We found out just a few days before were issued with a notice to leave.
“If we had known this two and a half years ago, we wouldn’t have invested all of our time and resources so much into this place.”
The Kanjini Co-op, which has hosted the Kuranda Roots Festival at the property for the past four years, rejects that it is forcing the wildlife group to move out because of the approved development application.
“We have run events and tourist activities while having a wildlife sanctuary without any conflict for several years, before and during Shai’s stay,” property manager Svargo Freitag said.
“This is not about our development or the wildlife sanctuary. It is about almost all other persons on the property reporting having had rather unpleasant encounters with Ms Ager.
“The notice to leave was given when it became apparent that Ms Ager was not mending her relationships with these people.
“Kanjini would welcome the continuation of the wildlife sanctuary under new tenants, providing that they and their visitors treat everyone else on the property with respect.”
Given the situation, Ms Ager has no choice but to find a new appropriate location to care for injured or orphaned wildlife.
“We need to find somewhere away from suburban areas with cars, busy roads, and dogs,” Ms Ager said.
“We also need to do an ecological assessment to make sure there are already existing and viable populations of certain species before we release them.”
Anyone who can assist, can contact Ms Ager at shai@theagileproject.com.au.
