Treating patients @Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital

Gidget was found orphaned, by a kind member of the public in Morten Bay, Queensland.

She was transported by her rescuer to the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital for a full veterinary assessment and treatment.

Upon arrival, Gidget received a full health assessment from the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital team. Thankfully, she was cleared of any serious injuries and found to have only minor bruising.

Gidget was placed in the Nursery ICU under close examination from the veterinary team. She was given fluids for dehydration and pain relief to aid a speedy recovery. Thanks to you, Gidget is well on the road to recovery. She has been placed with an experienced wildlife carer to raise her until she is old enough to be released back into the wild.

Opal was found on the ground and flightless in the main street of Nambour, Queensland. 

First taken to the Animal Emergency Service Vet in Tanawha, Opal was then transferred to the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital by the Australia Zoo Rescue Team. 

On arrival, Opal appeared flat and reluctant to move or fly. After a full medical examination by Dr Danny and the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital team, it was determined that Opal had a concussion, most likely caused by an altercation with a car. Fortunately, she suffered no skeletal injuries.

She was placed in the Birds ICU, under close examination from the veterinary team. She received pain medication and IV fluids to aid a speedy recovery. 

Thanks to you, Opal is on the road to recovery and on her way to being released back into the wild in a safe area. 

Leah, the koala was fighting for the survival of her life, and that of her joey, after disease had temporarily taken her sight. The five-year-old koala was spotted in a tree with a severe case of chlamydial conjunctivitis and a back-rider joey.

 The red, inflamed, cauliflower-like infection had engulfed both her eyes. With no ability to, see to source food or escape threats, the pair were in an extremely vulnerable position in the wild. 

Rescuers were called to the scene and carefully coaxed Leah down the tree, guiding her safely to the ground where they were waiting with a transport box. 

To give Leah some relief, the experienced rescuers flushed her sore, swollen eyes and applied antibacterial ointment. Her six-month-old joey, Paula, hugged her mother tightly all the way to the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital.

At the hospital, Dr Wendy provided Paula with a soft teddy bear and a warm blanket to ensure she felt warm and safe whilst they examined her mother. Under general anaesthetic, Dr Wendy was able to complete a full veterinary exam on Leah. 

Based on the severity of her conjunctivitis, she had been suffering from the chlamydial disease for some time. The infection had rendered her incapable of climbing tall trees or moving quickly along the ground, increasing her risk of being hit by a car or attacked by a dog. It was miraculous that Leah was rescued in time and that she had been able to raise a perfect, healthy joey in her poor body condition. 

Dr Wendy began Leah on a treatment plan of antibiotics and eye drops to clear her eye infection and rid her of the disease. Within a week, the veterinary team observed significant improvements. The inflamed eyelids had receded making her pupils visible and giving her limited sight. There was still a long way to go for Leah’s recovery, but it was a great start.

For the next two months, the veterinary team continued Leah’s treatment, monitoring her progress and keeping an eye on her quickly growing joey. 

During regular check-ups under general anaesthetic, Dr Wendy would surgically trim the excess conjunctival inflammation on the eyelids to promote healing. It was not long before Leah’s eyesight had returned to normal, allowing her to become a confident climber and restoring her capacity to care for her joey in the wild once more. 

Once the veterinary team received the test results confirming that Leah was disease-free, both her and Paula were released back into their home habitat. 

Young Lauchlan’s generosity towards wildlife saw him join the Australia Zoo Rescue Team for a sea turtle release.

Lauchlan and his family placed the winning bid in a silent auction at Australia Zoo to join the rescue team and release a turtle patient back into the wild. Inspired by the Zoo and its work, Lauchlan proudly gave up his parent’s offer of a PlayStation for Christmas to be part of Freda the green sea turtle’s big day.

Freda was found one month earlier starving in a local river as a result of suffering from the ‘Floater Syndrome’. A build-up of gas in her shell cavity meant that she was unable to dive and had slowly drifted into murky river waters. At the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital, Freda received a treatment of antibiotics and plenty of squid and lettuce, before her release day arrived.

Together, the Australia Zoo Rescue Unit and Lauchlan’s family picked out the perfect release spot for the 60-kilogram sea turtle and waved goodbye to her as she swam out to sea. 

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Cutter the carpet python suffered lacerations to his body after an encounter with a large lizard.

Dr. Danny and his team at the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital confirmed that the lacerations on Cutter's body were consistent with a lace monitor attack. The sharp teeth and claws of the large lizard had cut through the scales and injured the snake.

Dr. Danny and his team took the time to clean and suture each of the wounds along Cutter's body and provide him with a treatment of antibiotics and pain relief, before being released back into the wild three weeks later.

Fast Fact: If you encounter a snake in the wild, please do not approach it. Instead, remain calm and back away slowly. If you suspect the snake is sick or injured, please call your local wildlife rescue team who are specially trained in handling reptiles, to transport the snake to a vet clinic for medical attention.

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