News
5 March, 2026
Mobile wildlife hospital set to visit this weekend
A fully equipped mobile wildlife hospital will roll into the Southern Highlands for the first time this weekend, bringing hospital-grade care directly to injured native animals.
A fully equipped mobile wildlife hospital will roll into the Southern Highlands for the first time this weekend, bringing hospital-grade care directly to injured native animals.
The Southern Highlands Wildlife Sanctuary will host Matilda Animal Hospital this Saturday and Sunday (March 7 and 8) at the Sutton Forest Inn in Sutton Forest.
The Matilda Animal Hospital is a state-of-the-art mobile unit operated by Byron Bay Wildlife Hospital.
The visit marks Matilda’s first trip to the Southern Highlands region and the beginning of an ongoing partnership between the two organisations to support wildlife rescue, treatment and rehabilitation across regional NSW.
Matilda is a full-sized prime mover transformed into a wildlife hospital on wheels, carrying essential veterinary facilities, including advanced diagnostic equipment.
The mobile facility allows vets to assess and perform lifesaving surgery on native wildlife onsite. For animals needing more complex care, Matilda provides immediate triage and stabilisation before safe transfer to other facilities for further care.
Since launching in 2020, Matilda has helped treat more than 5,000 animals across NSW and beyond.
Designed to mobilise rapidly during natural disasters, the hospital can travel anywhere in Australia at short notice to provide lifesaving care.
For the Southern Highlands, this means fewer long journeys for injured wombats, wallabies, birds and other native species, with access to specialist veterinary support close to home.
Southern Highlands Wildlife Sanctuary founder Peter Lewis described the visit as a “turning point” for the region.
“This is a major step forward for wildlife care in the Southern Highlands,” he said.
“Our carers do extraordinary work with limited access to specialist facilities.
“Having Matilda here means animals can be assessed and treated sooner, with better outcomes. It also gives much-needed support to the network around our local wildlife carers and vets.”
The sanctuary, founded on the legacy of Bundanoon Wombat Care and the work of ‘wombat man’ John Creighton, has become a growing hub for wildlife rescue, education and habitat stewardship in the region.
Hosting Matilda signals its expanding role in building long-term conservation infrastructure for the Southern Highlands.
A spokesperson for Byron Bay Wildlife Hospital said this weekend’s visit reflected the organisation’s commitment to regional communities.
“Our mission is to make professional wildlife veterinary care accessible wherever it’s needed,” the spokesperson said.
“Partnering with Southern Highlands Wildlife Sanctuary allows us to extend that support into the Highlands for the first time.
“This collaboration is only the beginning of an ongoing plan to share veterinary and wildlife care expertise, ultimately improving outcomes for native species.”
Together, the organisations are working toward a long-term “rescue and treatment corridor” between Byron Bay and the Southern Highlands.
The aim is to increase the capacity for wildlife care, particularly in the face of increasing environmental pressures and bushfires and floods.
For more information about the Southern Highlands Wildlife Sanctuary visit https://southernhighlandswildlifesanctuary.org.au/
For more information about the Byron Bay Wildlife Hospital visit https://www.byronbaywildlifehospital.org/
Read More: Southern Highlands, Sutton Forest