Help Save South Australia's Koalas and Echidnas

The past three months have been an extraordinary whirlwind for Southern Koala and Echidna Rescue (SKER).

Our original goal remains unchanged: to protect South Australia’s iconic wildlife by providing free, 24-hour rescue, rehabilitation, veterinary care and advocacy, while supporting research that contributes to the long-term survival of koalas and echidnas.

But in recent months, the wildlife crisis facing South Australia has expanded in ways we could not have anticipated.

Bird flu has changed everything

South Australia has been significantly impacted by the arrival of highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5 bird flu), creating an additional and urgent challenge for wildlife rescuers and veterinary teams.

As bird flu spread, a number of local veterinary clinics stopped accepting wild birds because of the significant biosecurity risks and additional requirements involved in their care.

For SKER, turning our backs on animals in need was never an option.

We have had to rapidly pivot our operations to continue providing care for native birds while protecting the koalas, echidnas, possums and other mammals already in our care.

This has meant establishing a separate bird triage and treatment area, creating additional infection-control procedures, sourcing specialist equipment and PPE, and adapting the way our veterinary and rehabilitation teams work.

It has placed enormous additional pressure on an organisation that was already operating at capacity.

The demand isn't slowing down

At the same time as responding to bird flu, we are entering one of the busiest periods of the wildlife rescue calendar.

With summer approaching, we are preparing for trauma season, when wildlife injuries increase through vehicle strikes, attacks, burns, entanglements and other human-related incidents.

We are also seeing the seasonal influx of orphaned and fledgling wildlife requiring assessment and care.

Our team is already stretched.

Every patient requires food, medication, veterinary treatment, housing, cleaning, rehabilitation and, often, weeks or months of care before they are ready to return to the wild.

And the costs continue to rise.

A free service that cannot simply stop

SKER provides a 24-hour rescue service and veterinary care for wildlife at no cost to the person who brings an animal to us.

We operate our own registered wildlife veterinary clinic alongside our rehabilitation facilities, allowing us to provide a level of specialised care that is desperately needed in South Australia.

But free to the public does not mean free to provide.

There are significant costs associated with running our facility, including veterinary supplies, medications, specialised equipment, food, utilities, staffing, infection-control measures, PPE, building maintenance and the day-to-day costs of keeping a wildlife hospital operating around the clock.

Unlike many essential community services, our rescue operations receive no regular government funding.

We rely heavily on donations, grants, philanthropic support and our incredible community to keep the doors open.

We are doing everything we can

Despite the challenges, we continue to respond.

We have adapted our facility.

We have introduced additional biosecurity measures.

We have created a dedicated area for birds.

We are working to protect our mammal patients from potential disease transmission.

We continue to rescue animals, provide veterinary treatment, rehabilitate wildlife and return animals to the wild wherever possible.

And we continue to advocate for the wildlife of South Australia.

But it isn't all doom and gloom, there are wins worth celebrating.

Amongst the long days, difficult cases and constant challenges, we have also had some incredibly rewarding moments over the past three months.

We have celebrated multiple releases of wildlife back into the wild.

For our team, there is no greater reward than watching an animal we have cared for finally take that next step towards independence.

Most notably, two of our hand-raised orphans, Ari and Basil, have now made their way back into the wild.

These releases are always bittersweet.

Our team invests so much time, care and love into raising these animals that saying goodbye is never easy. But ultimately, that is exactly what we are working towards the day when they no longer need us.

The best part?

Ari and Basil are regularly being sighted around their release site and are doing great.

Knowing they are out there, navigating the wild and living the life we worked so hard to give them, makes every long day worthwhile.

These are the moments that remind us why we keep going.

Every rescue, every treatment, every sleepless night and every difficult decision is ultimately about giving wildlife the best possible chance to return home.

Our commitment has not changed:

We do not turn our back on an animal simply because caring for it is difficult.

But we cannot do this alone.

Your support matters now more than ever

Every donation to this project helps us continue providing the essential services that wildlife in South Australia desperately needs.

Your support helps fund:

• 24-hour wildlife rescue and emergency response
• Veterinary treatment through our registered wildlife veterinary clinic
• Rehabilitation and recovery
• Food and specialised diets
• Medications and veterinary supplies
• PPE and infection-control measures
• The development and operation of our dedicated bird triage area
• Essential facility costs and equipment
• Wildlife advocacy and education
• Research initiatives focused on the long-term survival of South Australia’s koalas and echidnas

The past three months have reminded us just how quickly circumstances can change.

One day we are responding to injured koalas, echidnas & other wildlfie. The next, we are building new systems to respond to an emerging wildlife disease while continuing to care for every other species that arrives at our gates.

We are a small organisation doing everything we can with the resources available to us.

But as summer approaches and wildlife admissions increase, we need our community beside us.

With your support, we can continue to provide a place where injured, sick and orphaned wildlife has a chance.

A place where people can bring an animal in need knowing they will receive timely, compassionate care when they need it most.

A place where wildlife receives specialised care from people who understand what it takes to return them to the wild.

And most importantly, a place where no animal is left to suffer simply because the system is already stretched.

Thank you for standing with SKER and helping us protect South Australia’s wildlife.