Animal Welfare Australia Project #44512

Support Australian wildlife rescue to release

by NSW Wildlife Information Rescue & Education Service (WIRES)

Project Report | Oct 19, 2023
Tragedy averted for entangled platypus

By Linda Jordan | Community Fundraising and Events Executive

It's been a difficult Spring for Aussie wildlife, with early bushfires and unseasonable heat causing a big spike in the number of calls received at WIRES – more than 19,800 in September alone.

As you'll see below, our native animals are facing so many challenges – and people like you are one of the most significant safeguards they have left. Here are just three of your rescue stories.

Urgent rescue for distressed platypus

Last month, a man in Tasmania spotted a distressed platypus in a drainage ditch, adjacent to local wetlands. A discarded zip tie had tighteded around the platypus' neck and under his front arm. He was in pain and struggling to breathe.

The man called for urgent help and we dispatched our Tasmanian Emergency Responder Ned, in our Wildlife Ambulance. Ned quickly cut the plastic tie from around the platypus' neck and transferred him for urgent veterinary care. It is hoped he will survive.

Pouch check saves an orphaned joey

Meanwhile on the East coast of Australia, a woman called WIRES when she found an infant Mountain Brushtail Possum sitting by his deceased mother on the side of a road. They'd been hit by a car, but in his mother's pouch, the infant had been protected from impact. WIRES Emergency Responder Tarn quickly checked the infant for injuries, providing him with electrolytes for rehydration, and placed him in a warn pouch for transfer to a local vet. The orphaned joey is now comfortable with his WIRES carer, where he'll stay until old enough for release.

Urgent Rescue for Tasmanian Devil

An adult female Tasmanian Devil had fallen into pit used for the disposal of dead fish at an inland fish hatchery in Tasmania. Workers had first seen her three weeks prior and thought she was living successfully in the area, however they called as soon as they’d witnessed her again, this time looking extremely sick.

Our Tasmanian Emergency Responder Ned was deployed to the scene. Upon arrival he found the animal to be emaciated, dehydrated, caked in rotten fish and clay, and verging on non-responsive. She was also in an extremely difficult position to access.

Luckily our Wildlife Ambulances are fully equipped with nets, poles, ladders, protective gear and medical supplies.

After an extensive, finicky and extremely smelly rescue, the Tasmanian Devil was successfully contained and immediately transported to Bonorong for urgent veterinary care. When ready she’ll be transferred to a wildlife carer for rest and rehabilitation.

Thank you as always for helping us rescue, rehabilitate and release Australian native wildlife in desperate need. On their behalf, we appreciate it!

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Jun 25, 2023
A second chance for orphaned wildlife

By Linda Jordan | Community Fundraising and Events Executive

So often, our work is about providing second chances to native animals who simply wouldn't have made it without our help. The two rescue stories below could not have happened without the ongoing support of people like you. Every hour of every day, your support is helping us rescue and care for native animals who are injured, orphaned, sick and in pain. On their behalf, thank you for helping us create these second chances!

A second chance for orphaned wombat joey

Last month, a motorist called WIRES when they witnessed a wombat not moving on the side of a busy road, in rural New South Wales. Whilst they were sure the wombat had died, a WIRES carer quickly attended the scene to do a pouch check. It was lucky she did, as the mother's tiny joey was found next to her – hungry, cold and grazed, on the side of the road.

After receiving urgent medical treatment, he was transferred to his WIRES carer Zora, where he was buddied up with some other youngsters to continue his rehabilitation. When he's learned all the skills he'll need to thrive in the wild, he’ll be released back into suitable habitat. Thank you for making sure he gets his second chance!

Another orphan given his second chance

In Tasmania, a member of the public urgently called WIRES when they encountered a pademelon looking weak and emaciated. It also appeared to be having a seizure. Sadly, minutes after Ned, our Tasmanian Emergency Responder arrived, the pademelon died. However, when Ned completed a pouch check, he discovered a very young male joey weighing just 714 grams. After the joey was checked by a veterinary team, he was transported in our Wildlife Ambulance to a wildlife carer where he’ll be cared for until he’s ready for release.

Thank you for supporting our vital wildlife rescue work and for helping to give orphans like these their second chance of life in the wild, where they belong.

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Mar 8, 2023
A sticky situation and a second chance of life in the wild for these two survivors

By Linda Jordan | Community Fundraising and Events Executive

So often, our work is about providing second chances for the survivors of very sad situations. Against the relentless pressures of land clearing, urban development and increasingly extreme weather events, our work to rescue displaced, injured and orphaned wildlife is becoming a vital part of securing the survival of some of our most vulnerable native species.

In Tasmania, a young Rufous-bellied pademelon was orphaned after his mother was caught on a barbed wire fence.Whilst the mother sadly died on her way to the vets, her joey was unharmed, and was found in bushes just a few metres from his mother.

He was distressed and hungry but otherwise in good condition. It took a long time for our Emergency Responder to capture the joey, as he needed to work quietly and gently so as not to cause additional stress.

The orphaned joey was transported in our Wildlife Ambulance for a medical check, and is now with his long-term carer, where he'll remain until he's old enough to be released into suitable habitat.

Meanwhile in Western Sydney, a factory worker discovered an unfortunate Blue Tongue Lizard who’d become stuck to a glue trap on the factory floor. They quickly called WIRES for help.

We dispatched our Emergency Responder Hannah, in one of our Wildlife Ambulances, which are fully equipped with both rescue and medical equipment.

Hannah noted the lizard’s entire side was stuck in glue and it was completely unable to move. However it was also bright and alert and had no actual injuries from the glue.

She carefully removed all traces of glue from the lizard using olive oil, was able to gently remove the lizard from the trap. She then used saline to remove the oil.

After a thorough health check he was relocated to nearby bushland for immediate release.

These are just two of the 200,000 calls for rescue we receive yearly. On behalf of these two little survivors, thank you.

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