UD Trucks and Byron Bay Wildlife Hospital stand ready to make a difference
Press release
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November 30, 2023
“Matilda”, a unique wildlife hospital hauled by a UD Quon prime mover is preparing for the worst as the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) forecasts increased risk of bushfires in eastern Australia due to reduced rainfall, high fuel loads and above average temperatures.
Having treated over 5000 animals since its inception in 2020, the Byron Bay Wildlife Hospital (BBWH) in partnership with UD Trucks have a crisis operations plan for deployment, and the capacity to save wildlife during a bushfire, flood or other natural disaster. Particularly in the face of Australia’s increasing bushfire risk during the summer season.
Matilda is wholly owned by Byron Bay Wildlife Hospital the only all species wildlife hospital in NSW outside of Taronga Wildlife Hospitals. Licensed by the Veterinary Practitioners Board of NSW, BBWH is open 7 days a week and provides full veterinary hospital services exclusively for sick, injured, and orphaned wildlife, free of charge.
Matilda's mobility is made possible through a partnership with UD Trucks Australia, with the clean, fuel-efficient and safe UD Quon hauling the hospital.
"Sustainability and environmental care are at the heart of everything we do, both at UD Trucks and as a part of Volvo Group Australia," said UD Trucks Australia Vice President, Philippa Wood. “This incredible mobile hospital is powered by one of the cleanest, most fuel efficient and safest trucks on the road today, the UD Quon, which is entirely fitting given its mission.”
Through the hospital’s partnership with UD Trucks, Matilda can be mobilised to travel to the scene of a natural disaster such as a bushfire, flood, mass stranding or oil spill affecting wildlife on a large scale. The hospital has all the veterinary equipment and supplies needed to triage, treat, and carry out lifesaving surgery on sick and injured wildlife. The mobile hospital is equipped with a satellite dish, solar panels, onboard water and deep cell batteries to operate self-sufficiently for an extended deployment to a disaster zone.
“The partnership between Byron Bay Wildlife Hospital and UD Trucks is incredibly important. We are facing a dangerous summer in terms of fire risk, and I think the work that the BBWH team does is sadly becoming increasingly important as the effects of climate change become more extreme.”
“We’re working closely with The Wildlife Hospital team to prepare for and assist with their deployment, and we stand ready with BBWH to proactively respond to help wildlife the minute it is needed.”
“Sustainability and environmental care are at the heart of everything we do, both at UD Trucks and as a part of Volvo Group Australia,” said UD Trucks Australia Vice President, Philippa Wood. “This incredible mobile hospital is powered by one of the cleanest, most fuel efficient and safest trucks on the road today, the UD Quon, which is entirely fitting given its mission.”
“The partnership between Byron Bay Wildlife Hospital and UD Trucks is incredibly important. We are facing a dangerous summer in terms of fire risk, and I think the work that the BBWH team does is sadly becoming increasingly important as the effects of climate change become more extreme.”
“We’re working closely with The Wildlife Hospital team to prepare for and assist with their deployment, and we stand ready with BBWH to proactively respond to help wildlife the minute it is needed.”
