Hello again to our wonderful supporters!
As always, we are all systems go at the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital. We are well and truely into mammal breeding season meaning there is little time for rest and relaxation. This is the time of year when our national icon - the koala - does it the toughest.
Our last update let you know just how many koalas came in last year with injuries from roadside accidents and domestic pet attacks. This year is no different. At the present time we have almost 80 koalas in care in our outside enclosures, and that's not including the koalas in our full to the brim mammals intensive care unit!
From the start this year up until the end of August we have seen 474 koalas through our doors, with 91 of those in August alone. Of those 91 koalas 26 were hit by vehicles and 12 were attacked by domestic pets. If last year was any indication the trauma season for our furry friends is far from over and our vets and nurses are preparing for a busy road ahead.
We have had several koalas with joeys come through and even a joey or two on their own - including Oliver (in one of our pictures). Oliver was found at the base of a tree in Amity Point with his mother in the tree above. He was very lucky someone found him and managed to get him to the hospital. At only 280grams he was estimated at around 5 months old. Koalas only start to develop their fur at around 4 months of age and in Oliver's case, he would still be pouch-bound.
Dr Robyn, the vet treating Oliver, thinks he may have fallen while mum was moving around, or she may have accidentally kicked him out. Upon assessment, she found he was dehydrated and suffering from a chest infection. He was given fluids and antibiotics and was put into a nice warm pouch inside a humidicrib. His chest infection cleared and he has now been transferred to a registered wildlife carer.
It is so important for people to bring little babies like Oliver straight in for veterinary assessment, especially if they are found on their own. If ever someone accidentally hits an animal while driving, please stop. You never know what kind of pain or internal injuries it may be suffereing. Keep a towel and a cardboard box in the back of your car, and even if you weren't the one to hit it, it is important to stop and check. In Australia, some of our mammals have pouches which help protect their young. This pouch may protect the baby from any serious damage in a vehicle accident. Even if the female is deceased she may still have young that have survived the initial trauma - it always pays to stop and check. You could be the difference between life and death for this animal.
The patients that come through our doors need all the help they can get and your generous donations and support give little guys like Oliver (and the beautiful big ones too) a fighting chance to get back out where they belong...... enjoying life in the wild!
Thank you again for all of your help. We wouldn't be able to continue our mission to save our wildlife without it.
Yours in conservation
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To all of our Wildlife Warriors
Australia Zoo Wildlife Warriors want to thank you for your support so far and into 2012. It's still go go go at the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital and we are gearing up for another busy trauma season for our koala patients.
Many of our patients require complex intensive care, hands-on rehabilitation and many months of specialised treatment to make a full recovery. Just like humans, their treatments are costly, and without the generosity of caring individuals like you, many of our animals would suffer with the lack of adequate treatment provided by the vets, nurses, carers and volunteers. Because of you, we are able to provide a level of care that ensures we reach our goal – to release our patients back into the wild, so they can live out their life as nature intended.
In 2011 there were over 7,500 animals admitted to the Wildlife Hospital with 833 of those being koalas!
The koala breeding season is from around June to December and in this time, they start to cover a lot more ground. As they start to look for mates, they move between territories. This, as well as spreading the gene pool around, means they end up crossing a lot more roads and back yards in search of the perfect partner. Unfortunately, this means there are more chances they can be hit by a car or attacked by a dog.
Last year we had 207 koala patients brought through the doors with injuries sustained from being hit by a car. 75% of these koalas were admitted during the breeding season!
Our vets and nurses here at the hospital are ready to go, 24hrs a day, 7 days a week, for any patient that comes through our doors. It's with your support that we can continue our work in the conservation and rehabilitation of our wildlife, and without your generosity, it would make our mammoth task even more daunting.
Thank you from the hearts of our wildlife
Yours in conservation
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Dear Supporters
Australia Zoo Wildlife Warriors are saying a massive THANK YOU to everyone who supported our project in 2011! Keeping the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital running with the latest equipment and the best veterinary care is no small task. Thanks to your generous donations and support, we were able to treat the 7,500+ animals that came through our doors.
All the equipment on our wishlist is used in the care and rehabilitation of our precious wildlife. Since the Wildlife Hospital opened in 2004, we have treated over 30,000 sick, injured and orphaned patients. Without your support, we wouldn't have been able to get these animals back to the wild where they belong.
2011 was a very busy year. We had over 7,500 animals brought through the hospital. That's more than 140 animals on average a week!
Check out how many patients were admitted each month -
January - 917
February - 567
March - 546
April - 530
May - 400
June - 329
July - 345
August - 603
September - 648
October - 937
November - 754
December - 723
Interesting fact: Out of all these animals, 833 were koalas!
It was the dream of Lyn Irwin (Steve's mum) to have a hospital that offered a free service to anyone who found injured wildlife, or was a registered carer. This dream is now a reality and could not happen without the help of people just like you.
Our staff are here 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days of the year to ensure our wildlife get the treatment they deserve. With your support Australia Zoo Wildlife Warriors can give these innocent victims the best possible chance at life.
Why not follow us on Facebook to keep up to date with all the latest news from the world of Wildlife Warriors http://www.facebook.com/WildlifeWarriorsWorldwide
Thank you again for your support in 2011. We hope you will join us in the fight for wildlife in 2012.
Yours in conservation
Links:
Dear Supporters,
Thank you for your support in helping us to raise enough funds for some essential equipment for the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital.
All the equipment on our wishlist is used in the veterinary care and rehabilitation of our precious wildlife patients. Since we opened in 2004 we have treated over 30,000 injured and orphaned patients that needed our care and attention with the ultimate goal of getting them back to the wild where they belong.
Since our project was posted we have had the following admissions:
March 2011 - 546
April 2011 - 530
May 2011 - 400
June 2011 - 329
July 2011 - 345
August 2011 - 603
September 2011 - 648
October 2011 - 937
November 2011 - 754
That's over 5,000 animals!
It was Lyn Irwin's (Steve's mum) dream to have a hospital that offered a free service to anyone who found injured wildlife or was a registered carer. This dream is now a reality and could not happen without the support of people just like you.
The hospital is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and 365 days of the year meaning that there is always a place to take these innocent victims for the best possible chance at life.
Why not follow us on Facebook to keep up to date with all the latest news from the world of Wildlife Warriors http://www.facebook.com/WildlifeWarriorsWorldwide
Thank you again for your support from ours and the hearts of our wildlife.
Links:
Dear Supporters,
Thank you for your support in helping us to raise enough funds for some essential equipment for the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital.
All the equipment on our wishlist is used in the veterinary care and rehabilitation of our precious wildlife patients. Last year we had over 8,500 injured and orphaned patients that needed our care and attention with the ultimate goal of getting them back to the wild where they belong.
Since our project was posted we have had the following admissions:
March 2011 - 546
April 2011 - 530
May 2011 - 400
June 2011 - 329
July 2011 - 345
That's over 2,000 animals!
It was Lyn Irwin's (Steve's mum) dream to have a hospital that offered a free service to anyone who found injured wildlife or was a registered carer. This dream is now a reality and could not happen without the support of people just like you.
The hospital is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and 365 days of the year meaning that there is always a place to take these innocent victims for the best possible chance at life.
We now need your help more than ever. Global Giving and Animal Planet have given us the opportunity to raise even more funds for this vital equipment. Please visit www.globalgiving.org/ROAR and help us reach our goals. Please pass this on to all your friends and family.
Why not follow us on Facebook to keep up to date with all the latest news from the world of Wildlife Warriors http://www.facebook.com/WildlifeWarriorsWorldwide
Thank you again for your support from ours and the hearts of our wildlife.
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