THE chief executive officer of a wildlife hospital planned to shake the hand of every councillor in the Gold Coast City Council after it announced a $120,000 donation.

Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary CEO Jonathan Fisher said the donation was a “fantastic and timely gesture”.

“This shows the maturity of this city,” Mr Fisher said.

“There is an old quote, I'm not sure exactly how it goes, but it's something like ‘a society is judged by how it treats its children and animals'.

“We care for animals from every division of the Gold Coast City Council and beyond.”

Mr Fisher said the donation was the first from the council.

“We are still not out of the woods,” he said.

Gold Coast City Council budget chairman, Mayor Ron Clarke, said the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary Hospital was in desperate need of financial assistance as a result of a downturn in tourism and sponsorship difficulties.

“Divisional Councillor Chris Robbins proposed the idea and I am pleased at the unanimous support offered by the councillors today,” he said.

Cr Robbins said the hospital cared for 6500 animals each year and the service it provided was unique to the Gold Coast.

“I urge the Gold Coast community to consider ways they can assist the hospital – by sponsoring one of Currumbin Sanctuary's runners in the Gold Coast Marathon, for example,” she said.

Cr Robbins said the hospital was a vital service to help protect and preserve wildlife.