Wildlife Carers

How to contact wild-life rescuers

On a number of occasions, the administrator of this site has been contacted on the phone number given at the bottom of this page by people seeking help for injured wildlife. Whilst he is more than happy to provide what help he is able to to help save the life of a possum, koala, kangaroo, echidna or other native creature, he is probably not the best person to contact first as he, himself, has little direct experience in providing first-aid for wildlife. Please send us your contact numbers for all over Australia.

Phone and Contact details for wildlife rescues & advice:

See also: Twitter page for wildlife rescue information for other countries as well as Australia.

VICTORIA

  • Animal Lib: Report animal cruelty/abuse on free call 1800751770. Anonymity is assured. Also 0409144803.
  • Animal Cruelty Hotline (Aust) 1800751770 (Barry R Tapp is the senior inspector)
  • Animalia 0435822699 in Melbourne covering the bay area from Brighton to Mornington Peninsula: 0435 822699
  • also in Melbourne, covering the same area: AWARE 0412 433727
  • Help for Wildlife 0417 380 687
  • WRES Statewide Wildife Emergency Rescue. 0427 301 401. Mainly covers Central Victoria.
  • Jenny Bryant - Koala rescue, Tyabb, Mornington Peninsula, 047395883
  • 1300094535 (You can also leave details on their website at  .). Wildlife Victoria have a poor record of responding to calls and leave people waiting on line. Plus they almost only refer to the other wildlife caring organisations anyway, so consider ringing one of the other organisations directly instead.

In the Australia Capital Territory (ACT - within NSW, includes Canberra)

Steve & Rosemary Garlick 0428880562 & 02 62381533

NEW SOUTH WALES AND QUEENSLAND:

  • Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital – 1300 369 652
  • Daisy Hill Koala Centre Ambulance – 07 3299 1032
  • Friends of the Koala Northern Rivers NSW - 02 6622 1233
  • Gympie and District Wildcare Australia – 07 5483 7777
  • Ipswich Koala Protection Society – 07 5464 6274 or 07 3282 5035
  • Moreton Bay Koala Rescue – 0401 080 333
  • Redlands 24 Hour Wildlife Rescue – 07 3833 4031 or 3299 1032
  • RSPCA Animal Ambulance – 1300 ANIMAL or 1300 852 188
  • Sunshine Coast Koala Wildlife Rescue – 0423 618 740 or 0431 300 729
  • Wilvo’s on the Sunshine Coast in Qld. 5441 6200
  • Wildcare Australia – 07 5527 2444
  • Far North Queensland Wildlife Rescue - 24hr hotline is 4053 4467
  • . They can be reached by e-mailing info [AT] fauna.org.au .
  • SOUTH AUSTRALIA

    Fauna Rescue of South Australia Inc. 24-hour Wildlife Volunteer Helpline - (08) 8289 0896
    Less urgent queries: fill out form:

    Native Animal Network of South Australia (NANSA) 24hrs/7days:
    For free advice or assistance on any matter regarding native animals contact the coordinators or a representative closest to you:

    • NAIRNE (08) 8388 6944 ... 0412 095 444 (Co-ordinator)
    • LITTLEHAMPTON (08) 8398 3117... 0411 102 763 (Co-ordinator)
    • Clare 0417 885 630
    • Coober Pedy (08) 8672 5405
    • Flinders Ranges (08) 8648 4092 ... 0418 850 919
    • Lobethal (08) 8398 5069 ... 0418 898 503
    • Lower Barossa (08) 8280 7223 ...0413 920 704
    • Lyndock (08) 8524 5060... 0402 646 574
    • Morgan (08) 8540 2417
    • Mt Pleasant (08) 8568 2331 ... 0407 609 832
    • Murray Mallee (08) 8565 2262 ... 0400 924 010
    • Murray Bridge (08) 8535 4276
    • Parndana (K.I.) (08) 8559 2232
    • Port Augusta (08) 8641 0123
    • Renmark (08) 8595 3538 ... 0400 294 287
    • Roxby Downs (08) 8671 0573
    • Victor Harbor (08) 8552 1781 ... 0408 850 568
    • Willunga (08) 8556 2664 ... 0438 388 144

    Other South Australian rescue resources

    • Adelaide Bat Care Seaton, SA 0422 182 443
    • Alexandrina Wildlife Support Group Inc Goolwa, SA 08 8555 1657
    • Bird Care & Conservation Society Inc Adelaide, SA 0409 984 910
    • Bird Rescue & Wildlife Care Myponga, SA 08 7329 3887
    • Ceduna Wombat & Fauna Rescue Ceduna, SA 08 8626 9118
    • Fauna Care and Release Inc Ashton, SA 0402 063 173
    • Fauna Rescue of South Australia Inc Modbury N, SA 08 8289 0896
    • Friends of Native Wildlife Mt Gambier, SA 0427 396 919
    • Kangaroo & Wildlife Rescue and Information Service Inc Aldinga Beach, SA 08 8556 5464
    • Kangaribilli Sanctuary Humbug Scrub5114 , SA 8280 7223
    • Marsupial Society of Australia Adelaide, SA 08 8374 1783 (Wombat rescues)

    WEST AUSTRALIA

    • Phyllis Facey: 08 96461469; 0437483175. Location: Beverley West Australia, about 130kms east of Perth. Registered wildlife carer and rescuer. Works mostly with marsupials but will take in some birds and hand on to other carers. Licenced to carry a sedative to sedate roadside trauma roos if necessary.
    • Native Animal Rescue: (08) 9474 9055

    FAR NORTH QUEENSLAND

    • Far North Queensland Wildlife Rescue: 07 40534467
    • Tablelands Wildlife Rescue Inc. 07 40917767

    CENTRAL QUEENSLAND

    • (07) 4954 3268, (07) 4954 3268

    TASMANIA

    • Bunorong wildlife sanctuary rescue line 24/7: (03) 6268 1184
    • Wildcare Inc. Lorraine (coordinator) Phone 03 6326 3502 Mobile 0417 108 596
    • List for all Tasmania:

    We hope to make this list more comprehensive for Australia. In particular we need contact details for New South Wales, South Australia, Western Australia, the Northern Territory and north Queensland. Please contact us or leave a comment if you know the contact details of any wildlife rescuers.

    Advice on how to care for an injured kangaroo

    of 24 May 2013 by Menkit Prince,
    of 25 October 2012 also by Menkit Prince

    Almost certainly there is more information on the internet. We will add more links.

    WHAT TO DO IF YOU HIT A NATIVE ANIMAL (Info taken from Native Animal Network of South Australia (NANSA)

    [Candobetter.net Editor says, this advises not to approach the animal until assistance arrives, however it does give advice further down about how to treat the injured animal, so please read on if you are stuck.]

    STOP IN A SAFE PLACE
    Take care not to endanger yourself or others by stopping your vehicle suddenly in a dangerous location.

    APPROACH WITH CAUTION.
    Approach any wild animal with care. Kangaroos particularly, are capable of lashing out with their very powerful hind legs, even if severely injured. Most animals are capable of inflicting nasty bites and scratches especially when frightened or in pain.

    IF THE ANIMAL IS NOT DEAD.
    If the animal has not been killed, do not approach it . Call for assistance immediately. Give accurate directions and if possible stay with the animal and warn others of its presence. If you are able to stay until assistance arrives, this also ensures that the animal is located.

    IF THE ANIMAL IS DEAD
    Check the underbelly for a pouch. Animals such as kangaroos, possums and wombats carry their young is a pouch. A bulge or movement inside a pouch may indicate live young. Gently remove the joey, taking care not to further injure the animal. An animal that has been dead for several hours, even overnight, may still have live young in its pouch.

    KEEP THE ANIMAL WARM.
    A cold animal that is sick, injured or orphaned will stay cold unless it is heated by some external source. Wrapping the animal in a towel or jumper alone will not make it warm. Small animals can be placed under the front of a person’s jumper. This is a safe and reliable heat source. Alternative emergency heat sources are hot water bottle or other plastic container filled with warm water, or an electric blanket on a low or mid setting with the animal wrapped in a towel. The animal must not be placed directly onto the heat source. Take care not to heat the animal too quickly and avoid extreme fluctuations in temperature. Aim for a constant temperature of 30-32 degrees C.

    KEEP THE ANIMAL QUIET
    Native animals are easily stressed and this alone may be enough to kill the animal. Keep it as quiet as possible, away from loud noises, and do not allow children to play with it. A joey requires the same care as a premature human baby.

    SEEK IMMEDIATE ASSISTANCE
    An animal will suffer in much the same way as a human. Seek immediate veterinary care if the animal is injured and even if you wish to care for the animal yourself, seek advice on the care and hand-rearing of orphans. Please see our contacts page, members of the Native Animal Network are available at all time to provide advice and assistance.

    SHORT TERM EMERGENCY DIETS
    The following diets should only be used short term, when assistance is delayed in obtaining the proper milk formula. The correct diet in native animals is essential. Special milk formula such as Wombaroo have been specially developed for native animals and are recommended for rearing orphans long term.

    DO NOT FEED the animal cow’s milk that comes from a carton or bottle as this can cause diarrhoea. Do not feed baby formula. Use only tinned or lactose free powdered milk in an emergency.

    Kangaroo and Wallaby
    50% tinned full cream evaporated milk and 50% boiled water. This should be fed using a long teat or soft piece of fine rubber tubing. An eyedropper or syringe may also be used.

    Possum
    Same formula as kangaroo but can be sweetened with a little honey. It should be fed with an eyedropper

    Wombat
    50% Powdered full cream milk and 50% boiled warm water with some Baby Cereal added. This should be fed from a bottle or a short teat or by spoon.

    About this page

    We hope to make this list more comprehensive for Australia. In particular we need contact details for New South Wales, South Australia, Western Australia, the Northern Territory and north Queensland. Please contact us or leave a comment if you know the contact details of any wildlife rescuers.

    On a number of occasions, James Sinnamon, the administrator of this site has been contacted on 0412 319669 by people seeking help for injured wildlife. Whilst James is more than happy to provide what help he is able to to help save the life of a possum, koala, kangaroo, echidna or other native creature, he is probably not the best person to contact first as he, himself, has little direct experience in providing first-aid for wildlife.

    Update, 11 August 2013: As a result of an emergency, where, just now, we tried to save, from amputation, the leg of a kangaroo near Griffith, NSW, we have realised that this page needs more phone numbers (and other information) to increase the likelihood that the necessary help and information will be received in sufficient time to save the life of a native animal or to enable his/her injury to be fixed. If you can help, or know of someone else who is able to help, please contact James Sinnamon on 0412 319669.