Support Australian wildlife rescue to release

Thank you for your continued support of Australian wildlife during an extremely busy season. From early heat waves and bushfires, through to cyclones, storms and flooding - it's been a distressing time for wildlife and you're helping to make a daily difference. Here a few of the latest rescues stories from the field...all made possible because of your support!

Orphaned koala now in care  

This young koala was rescued after his mother fell out of a very high tree during strong winds in Queensland.  

The mother koala had fallen 15 metres onto bitumen and power lines. She was emaciated (suggesting the fall had happened a few days earlier) and had abrasions to her eye. She was rushed to Currumbin Wildlife Hospital, but didn’t survive her injuries. 

Her little joey had not fallen with her, but had climbed much further up the tree. Two rescuers from Wildcare Queensland joined with WIRES Emergency Rescuer Amy and together reached the joey and guided him to safety. He will now remain in care until he’s old enough to be released.   

Possum in a tight situation  

One night, a householder in Sydney heard some very strange noises coming from a drain pipe in their courtyard. The next morning they unscrewed the lid of the drain to find a possum wedged in the pipe. They quickly called WIRES for help. 

The possum appeared to be stuck in a precarious position where it could go further into the drain, making him very difficult to reach. Fortunately, his head was facing up into the pipe so he hadn’t been upside down overnight, but there had been a constant drip on his head which would have been distressing and could have led to illness.  

WIRES Emergency Responder Callum quickly attended the scene. He started by gently getting his hand around the possum’s torso and slowly, gently maouvering him to get his head and then body out of the drain. 

The Possum was a brushtail and had plenty of life in him, struggling valiantly to stay away from Callum and within his drain.  

When safely enclosed in a carrier Callum gave him a quick assessment. He was soaking wet and very cold, but free of injuries. He was transported to a local vet for a more thorough assessment and is now recuperating with his WIRES carer. He's soon to be released.

Lifesaving pouch checks  

Many of our regional WIRES volunteers make a regular heartbreaking journey along country roads and highways, checking the pouches of marsupials killed by cars. Two little Kangaroo joeys who were both survivors and orphans from two separate collisions in late 2023, will now be extremely important buddies as they travel their rehabilitation journey. One of them was discovered by a motorist who stopped and and checked the pouch of the deceased mother. When they found the tiny joey they called WIRES for help. The other joey was found sadly standing next to her deceased mother on the side of the road.They are now both doing well in WIRES' care learning how to graze and forage in their pre-release enclosure. In time, they'll be released together.

Thank you again for your support, without it these animals would not have been given a second chance of life in the wild.