Treating patients @Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital

Chandler the eastern grey kangaroo joey admitted to the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital after suffering trauma-related injuries from a barbed wire fence.

Chandler the eastern grey kangaroo joey was brought to the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital in desperate need of critical care after she was caught in a barbed wire fence. Chandler’s Mum had originally become caught in the fence and in an attempt to get to her Chandler too became caught. Sadly, Chandler’s Mum succumbed to her injuries, and Chandler was brought to the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital for treatment of severe lacerations to her nose and forehead.

Chandler was taken into surgery shortly after being admitted to the hospital to place a drain that allowed the build-up of bodily fluid relating to her injury to drain out. She also received multiple stitches to her nose and forehead where deep lacerations had occurred. Due to the conditions surrounding her injury, Chandler had also developed myopathy, a stress-induced muscle degenerative condition that can affect wild animals when they are put under a strenuous event. This in itself can be life-threatening and as such Chandler was placed in our intensive care ward for around-the-clock care.

Chandler has since been released into the hands of a specialised wildlife carer who will continue her rehabilitation journey. From there onwards, Chandler will be raised until she is at an age where she can be ‘soft released’ with other kangaroos of a similar age, together they will form a ‘mob’ (group of kangaroos).

Each year, over 10,000 animals are brought to the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital for lifesaving treatment. As one of the world’s largest and busiest purpose-built wildlife hospitals, they’re playing a vital role in saving Australia’s native species, one life at a time.

With urbanisation and human population growth causing many species to live side-by-side with people, wildlife are falling victim to many unnatural conflicts such as road incidences, domestic pet attacks, loss of habitat, and much more.

Together we can change the fate of Australia’s sick, injured and orphaned animals by giving them a second chance at survival and for many species, a chance to recover.

With more wildlife on the brink of extinction, accelerated by the 2019-2020 bushfires that devastated our already vulnerable wildlife, maintaining and growing population numbers of decimated species has never been more important. Standing together as Wildlife Warriors has never been more important.

Links:

• Much needed care for this sweet kangaroo joey

Winny the black flying fox orphan on the road to recovery after being found entangled in a garden fence.

Winny the black flying fox orphan had a rough start to life after she was discovered caught up in a backyard garden fence. A local wildlife rescuer was called to assist with Winny’s rescue and transport to the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital.

Upon admission, Dr Emily discovered that Winny was suffering from a fractured wing, dehydration and mild pneumonia. Winny spent a week in the Nursery ICU receiving fluids and pain relief to aid recovery. Thanks to around-the-clock care from our dedicated team of vets and nurses, Winny was placed into the hands of a specialised wildlife carer to continue her rehabilitation. Good nutrition and rest will be vital for Winny’s recovery.

Winny will continue to visit the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital for regular appointments with the vet team to ensure her fracture is healing well before she will be cleared for release back into the wild.

Fact: Flying foxes play an important role in our ecosystem, they are recognised as a keystone species – a species that has a vital impact on its natural environment, helping to hold the ecosystem together. They are amazing pollinators traveling distances far and wide, spreading seeds through their faeces and carrying pollen from one plant to another.