Holsworthy Bushfire Emergency
As the smoke clears from the recent bushfires in Menai and Holsworthy, large numbers of injured wildlife are emerging from the ashes. Local vets and wildlife carers are inundated with animals suffering from burns and smoke inhalation, or having lost their homes.
Sydney Wildlife is currently raising funds to establish a mobile wildlife clinic. Although this won't be ready for another 12 months, when it is up and running we will be able to take the van to the sites of natural disasters and offer on-the-spot help.
In the meantime, Sydney Wildlife rescuers have been on call since the fires started, but have only now been allowed into some areas, due to safety concerns. In these situations we must wait for the go-ahead from local fire authorities, SES and National Parks and Wildlife Services.
If you live in, or are passing through, affected areas, please be extra vigilant for injured or orphaned wildlife. These animals will be suffering from stress, and may behave erratically, so we ask you to be particularly careful on the road. If you do find an animal in need, please call us on 9413 4300. Our website and FaceBook page aren't constantly monitored for rescues, so please go old-school and use the phone.
In some cases, you may be able to contain the animal and take it to your closest vet. Please don't feed it, or attempt to treat its wounds, leave this to the experts. The vet will give the animal initial treatment (check for burns, injuries and smoke inhalation, rehydrate it, etc.) and then contact a trained wildlife carer to handle the animal's rehabilitation. Of course, in some cases, the animal may have to be euthanised. While this is a very sad outcome, please remember that this will be putting a badly injured animal out of its pain. If this is the best we can do for an animal, it is preferable to leaving it to suffer.
As in any situation, there are animals that must be left to trained and experienced rescuers. This is particularly important in the case of bushfires, as the animals will be extremely stressed and potentially dangerous. Please note their exact location, and contact us on 9413 4300, if you spot an injured kangaroo or wallaby, flying-fox, snake or goanna. If possible, please stay nearby (not too close!) so that you can direct our rescuer to the animal.
Please be conscious of your own safety at all times.
Thank you to all of you who have contacted us and offered to help. If you are interested in making a donation to assist us in rescuing and looking after these animals, or to get our mobile wildlife clinic up and running, please go to our website www.sydneywildlife.org.au. All donations over $2 are tax deductible.
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Adult Brushtail
Chillin' out in the wild
