On Sunday the Rescue Unit received a call from a farmer local to the Gympie region that had cut a koala off his barbed wire fence on Saturday. The family had done an excellent job in finding the koala, considering the size and remote location of the rescue, and once removed from the barbed wire had applied antiseptic spray and the Koala had jumped up into the nearest tree.

On closer inspection the next day, the family realised that the Koala was infact not using the lower right leg, which had been caught in the fence. Their call for help ended up with the AZRU and we headed up right away. They had also noticed that the Koala was indeed a female, and she had a young joey in the pouch.

When the team arrived at the farm, we drove all the way through the top paddock to the Koalas location - on a 10 metre spotted gum tree - on the fence line. She hadn’t moved trees since her rescue the previous day. Due to the delicate motion of getting her down out of the tree with her injured leg, the rescue team worked slowly and consistently with the koala poles. The team needed to encourage her down to the ground very slowly and in her own time so that there would be no chance of a fall or further injury.

During her decent, the team noticed that she had no control over the injured leg, with it even getting caught in the forks of branches. The Joey in the pouch appeared to be quite unfazed by the rescue mission, giving us quick glances throughout. Once on the ground, the team secured her into a Koala cage with some fresh tip leaf and loads of padding and blankets to make the 1.5 hour trip back to the Zoo on the dirt road a little less uncomfortable.

Once back at the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital, ‘Sam Toucan’, as she is now known, had immediate treatment by Dr Claude. We’re hoping that she is able to recover from her leg injury, while looking after that precious cargo she has in her pouch!

Barbed wire fences cause significant damage to our native wildlife, on Sunday we attended three rescue calls for animals caught on these fences, ‘Sam Toucan’ is very lucky to be alive. Inexpensive measures can be taken to alert native wildlife to the existence of these fences, including, securing flagging tape, old CD’s, shredded shopping bags to the top and bottom strings of wire every 5 metres, or even reconsidering the need for barbed wire on your fences at all. Check out www.wildlifefriendlyfencing.com for more ideas on how to protect native wildlife on your property.

If you see any sick or injured native wildlife, please call Australia Zoo Rescue Unit on 5436 2000.

The Rescue Unit slowly encouraging 'Sam Toucan' down the tree

'Sam Toucan'

Andy was called out to another adventurous rescue where a Masked Lapwing chick had fallen through the protective grill of a drain. The team got there as quickly as they could and Andy jumped straight in with his trusty torchlight!

Luckily for Andy, the Masked Lapwing had only moved a metre from the main drain area, so he was able to grab quickly before it ventured any further away! Once back up on the surface the chick was released immediately and re-joined its worried parents! (And we couldn’t resist getting a couple of photos of Andy in the drain!)

This chick was very lucky that members of the public who lived nearby had been monitoring its progress, and noticed it was missing, and found it in the drain! If you notice any sick or injured native wildlife please call Australia Zoo on 5436 2000.

Release!!

These babies may appear to be abandoned by their parents, but in many cases, they are simply learning to fly!

Last spring, Kate C and Kado attended this rescue nearby the Zoo, where a member of the public had found a baby magpie lark on the ground in her backyard, after ensuring that it was not injured in any way, we set about attaching a makeshift nest to a tree in the backyard, and placed the baby inside. Sure enough, minutes later, the parents were down on the new nest, making sure their little one was ok.

If you find a baby bird this spring that is uninjured and you can see the parents nearby, you can do the following to create a makeshift nest!

1. Find a bucket, old ice-cream or yoghurt container, or similar.

2. Put some holes for drainage in the bottom of the container (Just in case it rains!)

3. Find some soft leaf litter for the base

4. Insert a stick reaching from the bottom of the container to the top (so mum and dad bird can get in and out easily)

5. Attach securely to the tree that the nest is or was in, as high as you can get it. (Far away from any domestic pets or predators!)

6. Carefully place the baby bird inside the nest, walk a distance away, and watch quietly to see if, over time, the parent birds return to their young one.

Of course, if you find a baby bird or any animal that is sick or injured, please call Australia Zoo Rescue Unit on (07) 5436 2000

Yesterday James and Kado headed out to Toogoolawah, approximately one and a half hours drive west from the Zoo, to help some local wildlife carers with a koala that had been hit by a car. The Koala had managed to climb up to the very top of a 20 metre high tree on the side of the highway.

The AZRU team arrived and immediately set up the ropes and equipment needed to climb the tree. Kado climbed and began poling the koala down to James, who was waiting on ground level to catch the Koala; the team had the koala at about 5 metres high, when he suddenly jumped into a nearby tree, out of reach of both James and Kado. While attempting capture, the team were able to check out the injuries, and determined that the Koala needed urgent medical attention for its facial trauma.

Unfortunately, the tree that the koala was now climbing was unsuitable for the rescue crew to climb. When there are too many dead branches, trees may not be strong enough to support the body weight of a rescuer.

Plan B swung into action and the team were able to phone the Energex depot in Esk, a nearby town, who sent a team out with a cherry picker. Unfortunately when they arrived, the cherry picker was deemed too small to be able to reach the Koala, so a much larger ‘RG’ was called to the scene to assist.

Once the Energex team and the ‘RG’ arrived, James was harnessed up and went up in the bucket, and easily poled the Koala down the main trunk, to Kado who was waiting to catch at the base!

‘Gexy’ the Koala, named after the Energex crew who donated their time to assist in the rescue, received emergency treatment last night at the AWH. Dr Amber determined that ‘Gexy’ has a fractured skull, and he is currently receiving treatment in the intensive care unit at the AWH.

James heading up in the Energex 'RG'

James using a koala pole to encourage the koala down the tree

James and Kado pole the Koala down to the base of the tree

The Rescue Uit were recently called out to a Flying Fox rescue, where the flying fox had been entangled on some barbed wire, overhanging a creek. Toby and Andy headed out straight away, and launched the kayak into the creek.

Barbed wire rescues can be difficult at the best of times, with the barbs often entangling the wing membrane of the flying fox, and wrapping around several times.

Luckily for this little guy, Andy was able to carefully remove him from the barbs, and safely deliver him to Toby, waiting on the shore.

If you see any sick or injured native wildlife, please call Australia Zoo Rescue Unit on (07) 5436 2000.

Andy Kayaking over to the entangled Flying Fox

Andy removing the flying fox from the barbed wire

It’s always exciting for us on the Rescue Crew when we get to see a species like the Green Tree Snake, which is quite common in our area, but with a different colour variation!

Kate C and Kado were out at a snake rescue at Burpengary and came across this Green Tree Snake, but with a slight difference. The top of the head is very dark black, with almost a lime green colour underbelly, reaching around the side of the main body. This snake was definitely on the larger side of the average size that we normally see around here.

If you see any sick or injured wildlife, please call Australia Zoo on 5436 2000

Check out the cool colouration!

The Green Tree Snake on the boat trailer

THE BEGINNING~

So, I decided to start a blog on my Journey from New Jersey to Australia. I probably should start by introducing myself. My name is Melissa. I am a freshman in High School and I am 14 years old. My birthday is in the amazing month of July. I have never been quite sure what I wanted to do with my life but I have always been drawn to outdoor adventure type jobs that include animals of course. I have 2 dogs currently but at some points I had up to 6 pets! I know I am still young to be worried about my entire future, but it could never hurt to look around….so that is where my journey begins.

I was sitting at home the last few days wondering about where I was headed in life. I have been a good student and daughter and now am planing on joining my school’s cross country team.I was thinking about careers and future locations to live. Growing up in New Jersey, close to New York City, I have been exposed to many cultures. I have considered moving to Tennessee, but decided against it. Other locations I have considered have been California, New York, and…..Australia. After thinking about my preferences and desire to explore I have decided upon Australia.

As for a job, I have been going back and forth for so long. Interior design, Culinary, Personal Trainer/Fitness Coach, Music, and  a Marine Mammalogist/ Zoologist. The main reason I chose Australia, is because it was the only location that offered all of the above as potential jobs. The Great Barrier Reef, Sydney Opera House, and many Zoo’s…including the Australia Zoo, are just the beginning. The locals seem very appealing to, not to mention the accent and vocabulary that comes along with them. The climate was also another factor that aided in my decision.

This blog is going to keep everyone and myself on track throughout my journey from New Jersey to Australia. I will be discussing any further decisions I make and the reaction of others as I move along in my life.

Until next week,
~~Melissa

The rescue crew were called out recently to an Osprey with a fishing line entanglement, stuck on one of the Pine Trees at Bullock Beach, Caloundra. We raced over, as we know with prior entanglement rescues, time is of the essence.

The team arrived to find the Osprey seemingly attached to the lowest branch by its foot and by several feet of fishing line and a sinker. Lucky for this little guy, on closer inspection with binoculars, we were able to see that the Osprey was not actually entangled at all. It was simply standing on a branch that was wrapped in line!

Briano hooked up the climbing gear to the tree, and immediately started to climb up to remove the line, and with the help of a handsaw, was able to remove the branch with line and sinker intact, to stop any other animals from becoming entangled in the line.

So a lucky break for this Osprey, but if you see any animals that are sick or injured, please call Australia Zoo on 5436 2000.

Nina interviews Entertainment Michael

Australia Zoo TV has a new official channel! ‘Conservation in Action‘ is where you will meet the people who are taking the future into their own hands and making a difference today!

Follow Nina as she interviews conservationists from all walks of life that are standing up and making a difference today.

The first episode kicks off with Australia Zoo’s Entertainment Manager, Michael. Find out what Entertainment Michael is doing to make a difference. Michael lives a life of example. Find out why it is so important for everyone to step up and make changes. Check out the first episode here.

Come on everyone- we need to save this most beautiful place- its about time we put the environment ahead of the mighty dollar!