The Wild Days Story
The BeginningHow did it all begin? Shelter owner Kay Taranto followed a lifelong love of animals. After many years volunteering in animal welfare organisations, felt a need to do more.
Located in Melbourne's South East Suburbs, Kay watched as the increasing local population meant the spread of suburbia and the destruction of habitat around her home, with hundred year old trees flattened for housing and roads. As she saw changes and acceleration of human activities in the area, she saw more and more wildlife killed, injured or orphaned and in need of a helping hand. In 2007 she trained to become a wildlife rescuer and was hooked. Despite the confronting animal suffering wildlife rescuers face, she continued, following the natural progression and training to become a wildlife foster carer and then wildlife carer, founding Wild Days Wildlife Shelter in 2008. Kay is a licensed wildlife carer and holds the necessary Wildlife Rehabilitation Shelter Permit from the Department of Energy Environment and Climate Action (DEECA). Soon after becoming a registered wildlife carer, she found herself deep into rescue and care, with heat stress events and Black Saturday bushfires engulfing Victoria. A steep learning curve followed along with the capacity to manage and rehabilitate a large range of species. The increasing need and growing impacts on wildlife have led to the annual growth of a very busy Wild Days Wildlife Shelter. With every injured or orphaned animal, there is a community member who has taken the step to help that animal. We see an opportunity not only to help animals in need at the shelter, but to use those contacts with the community to educate the public about the wonders of Australian wildlife and help them engage and learn how to live in harmony with wildlife. Wild Days is dedicated to raising awareness and education of the community. In 2024 Wild Days Wildlife Shelter was honoured to be awarded the 2024 Casey Community Group of the Year in acknowledgement of the dedication to wildlife. |
Kay in the very early days with her first hand raised brushtail possum.
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Our Vision |
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At Wild Days, we believe that each individual animal has the right to exist peacefully within their natural environment free from harm. Unfortunately, human actions like the introduction of cats and foxes, threats like moving vehicles and ever increasing habitat clearing and destruction, have created a world where our native fauna are subjected to challenges that they would not have to face in the untouched natural Australian landscape.
It may be a young galah or a brushtail possum with a pouch young, who may need medical treatment, hand feeding for months or just need a few days rest, we at Wild Days treat every individual as equal and give each the best care we can give. Just as every human enters a hospital with the right to the best possible treatment, every animal that comes into Wild Days receives the best possible care we can provide. |
Our Mission"CARE, RESPECT, FREEDOM"
Our mission is to CARE for those animals who need our help, RESPECT their environment and give them FREEDOM to return to the wild. Whenever we release an animal that has been in our care for rehabilitation, it gives a sense of achievement and hope that we have given it a second chance to live a full life. This is what gives us the drive to keep going. As humans are responsible for most of the damage inflicted on our wildlife, we feel an obligation to be part of the solution rather than the problem. Every creature deserves the right to live their life in peace and freedom, free from harm. "You cannot get through a single day without having an impact on the world around you. What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make." |
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About Kay TarantoKay Taranto is the type of person that inspires everyone she meets.
Kay holds a Bachelor of Science (Zoology, Ecology & Conservation) and has completed a Certificate in Wildife Rehabilitation. Kay believes you never stop learning and since commencing her role as a voluntary wildlife carer has completed over 80 workshops, conferences, seminars and courses and spends her time trying to share her knowledge with others. Kay was honoured to be named 2022 Casey Local Hero of the Year and 2022 Westfield Local Hero for her dedication to wildlife. She is very grateful for the support of the Wild Days' Team and Supporters for making Wild Days possible. You can find Kay's professional profile on her Linkedin page here. |
