The Department of Conservation’s (Doc) Wildlife Institutions Relief Fund, worth $14.89million, has allocated $9.6million to 28 successful applicants.
Of those, six are in Otago and Southland.
Doc director-general Lou Sanson said that without the support, wildlife under the care of eco-sanctuaries, zoos, wildlife parks and wildlife rehabilitation facilities would be at risk.
"Wildlife rescue facilities carry out invaluable work, especially for indigenous species such as kakapo and hoiho (yellow-eyed penguin)."
The impacts of Covid-19 had reduced wildlife institutions’ revenue from visitors and donations, and the continued closure of New Zealand’s borders meant revenue was likely to remain low for the 2020-21 financial year.
The Dunedin Wildlife Hospital was one of the successful applicants and was granted $140,000.
"The fund is aptly named, because it is a huge relief for us to get this grant," hospital manager Jordana Whyte said.
The funding meant it would be able to retain all its specialist staff, including keeping its veterinary team intact.
"We only asked for what we absolutely needed to maintain jobs.
"Many of the other grantees are important collaborators and were not interested in diluting the funding pool," she said.
Although the hospital did not have visitor revenue, it had still been affected by Covid-19.
"[In] one week alone we had four events cancelled. It was becoming a bit soul-crushing.
"This grant helps immensely ... I was beginning to sweat it."
The Orokonui Ecosanctuary will also receive funding.
General manager Amanda Symon said it had not yet been confirmed how much the ecosanctuary would receive, but she was "grateful" to have been approved for some of the funding.
"As you can imagine, [Orokonui Ecosanctuary’s] revenue has been greatly impacted by Covid-19."
The money would help operations at the ecosanctuary and support staff involved with the care and management of threatened species, she said.
