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How to contact wild-life rescuers
The link to this page is https://candobetter.net/WildlifeRescue.
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 #WildlifeRescue 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 Help for wildlife
- WRES Statewide Wildife Emergency Rescue. 0427 301 401. Mainly covers Central Victoria.
- Jenny Bryant - Koala rescue, Tyabb, Mornington Peninsula, 047395883
- Wildlife Victoria 1300094535 (You can also leave details on their website at http://www.wildlifevictoria.org.au/wildlife-victoria-rescue .). 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:
- The Brisbane Area Rescue Network (BARN), ph 0405 056 066
SOUTH AUSTRALIA
Fauna Rescue of South Australia Inc. 24-hour Wildlife Volunteer Helpline - (08) 8289 0896
Less urgent queries: fill out form: http://www.faunarescue.org.au/contact.htm
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: http://www.wildcaretas.org.au/groups
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
Can an Injured Kangaroo with Compound Fractures be Rehabilitated? of 24 May 2013 by Menkit Prince,
Special Kangaroo 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) http://www.nansa.org.au/
[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.
Comments
Wildlife Carers & Campbell Newman
Australian Wildlife Protection Council - is NOT a rescue group.
Please check to see if BARN is still answering their phone 24 hours. Have been told that they stopped operating after last years floods.
Campbell Newman has NO respect for wildlife. He has made a shallow promise to help the Sea Turtles and Dugongs. He has also made a promise to let anyone cruelly MURDER Flying Foxes. No one is making promises to stop the cruel MURDERING of Macropods. He also has NOT made any promises for Qld's koalas.
BEWARE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
AWPC not rescue organisation but has many such connections
Sorry, I have removed the AWPC from the Wildlife Rescuers list. But they are incredibly helpful and in touch with many wildlife carers, so deserve all our support.
Thanks for the tip on Cambell Newman. It's really a choice between two clowns in Queensland, I'm afraid.
Wildlife rescue
2 wildlife rescue and rehabilitation organisations in Melbourne covering the bay area from Brighton to Mornington Peninsula are Animalia 0435 822699 and AWARE 0412 433727.
Thanks, Jenny. I've added the numbers you have provided to the list above. - Ed
Possum killed in Lutwyche, Queensland
A possum was attacked by a domestic dog in the northern Brisbane suburb of Lutwyche earlier this evening at roughly 7.30PM Queensland Time (8.30PM elsewhere on the Eastern Australian seaboard). It sadly died an hour later in spite of efforts by Lea-ann to contact the Brisbane Area Network Association animal rescuers listed above and the care she gave to the injured possum.
The phone number for BARN, 0405 056 066, was inactive when Lee-ann tried to ring.
It seems unlikely that BARN would have been able to save the possum even if Lea-ann had been able to reach them. Still, let's hope that the mobile service works better next time a possum's life is threatened with injury.
Another way to better assure that injured possums receive more timely treatment in future would be for more contact phone numbers to be listed here. If you know of any other numbers through which people able to help injured wildlife can be reached, please leave a comment here or 'phone me on 0412 319669.
Postscript: (11:25PM) The following was posted to Twitter, just now:
Tweet
Albert Park Victoria: Possum attacked by dog and human today
Today a candobetter.net editor received a call from Evelyn, a person who was picniking in St Vincents Garden, Albert Park. She saw a dog off-leash attack a possum, then the human accompanying the owner throwing the possum about. I left a message about the location and nature of the problem on Wildlife Victoria's site (after waiting about 10 minutes on their phone). Animal Lib had initially said that they did domestic animals, but later phoned back, unasked, to say they would send someone out if the girl wished and were given her contact number. They said to count them in in future for this kind of problem. In the mean time Evelyn had found a towel and wrapped the possum and was going to take it to a local vet. it was a ringtail, by her description. A person who had done a possum care course in the area was also contacted and said they would ring Evelyn.
After that I looked at the above page and realised that people were ringing here first because our number was at the top. So I have placed that number at the base of the page and improved the display of more directly relevant resources for finding rescuers.
This animal died too
I tried to help Evelyn find somewhere to take the ring tail possum.The local vet which she thought was open 24 hours was closed. I rang the Lort Smith Animal hospital in North Melbourne who were open and said they would take the possum. They said that if there were any visible injuries that the possum would be put down as possums "do not respond well to antibiotics". They gave me 2 other choices north of the city in Collingwood and Kensington but Evelyn said they were all too far for her. I then drove to meet Evelyn intending to take the possum to a vet. I contacted her by phone on the way to get more directions. During this phone call l I learned that the possum had died. Just one more clash with burgeoning humanity and our wild life!
2009 video of care for koala rescued from bushfire, ...
Wildlife carers could also consider recording their rescue efforts on video and publishing them on Youtube. A search for "care for injured australian wildlife" (quotes omitted) gave me the following broadcasts amongst others:
Australian bushfire koala victim: Mystery Girl - 2009
Baby Brushtail feeding
NSW Wildlife Groups
http://www.nwc.org.au/resources/injured-wildlife-find-your-nearest-rescue-group/