James and Kado were just finishing up last Wednesday at work when an urgent call came through; an Eastern Grey Kangaroo had somehow got caught between two large water tanks and the retaining wall surrounding them. The team quickly drove up to Mt Coolum to check out the situation.

When they arrived, they found a 30Kg female Eastern Grey Kangaroo, who the owners suspected had been caught behind the tanks for at least 24 hours! The team attempted to remove her without using any sedation, as this would be the best possible result, however, she could not fit between the tank and the wall, so the team had to go with plan B.

Plan B was to sedate her lightly, and remove her from above. Kado mixed up the sedative, and James successfully blow darted her. Once she was sedated, Kado was able to lower herself down into the confined space with the Kangaroo, and test that the Roo was sedated enough to remove her from the area. By this time it was completely dark and the team were working by torchlight, Kado slowly passed the Roo up to James, who had positioned himself on top of the water tank. James was able to move her up onto some concrete nearby so the team could assess her injuries.

The AZRU team work closely with the Australia Zoo and the Australian Wildlife Hospital Veterinary team for all of our wildlife rescues. In this situation, the Kangaroo had a few minor injuries, mostly from continuous rubbing of her ankles and hips against the concrete retaining wall. The other factor that we took into consideration was that she had pouch young, a joey weighing approximately 600g. After discussion with Australia Zoo Veterinarian, Dr Tim Portas, we decided to give her the best possible chance for survival and release her immediately at the nearby Golf Course. This beautiful Kangaroo recovered well during the night, and by 6am she was long gone! A fantastic result!

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

The Eastern Grey Kangaroo trapped between the water tank and the retaining walls

Briano was called out to rescue this Black-headed Flying Fox from antennae at the Glass House Mountains. He was able to get up onto the roof of the property, and safely remove the animal, and transport him back to the Australian Wildlife Hospital to get a check-up by the Vets.

Black-headed Flying Foxes quite often end up on antennae, barbed wire fences, and even can be hit by cars. We always recommend that you call a qualified rescuer or bat handler to assist in these situations.

Black headed flying fox with the Glasshouse mountains behind

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

The Australia Zoo Rescue Unit was called out today to a Mountain Brushtail Possum (AKA Short-eared Brushtail Possum or Bobuck) that was suffering from Possum Dermatitis in the Mooloolah Valley.

Dermatitis is a skin condition that causes infection, hair loss, irritation and pain to our native Possum species.

This juvenile possum was very lucky, and was given the ok by Australian Wildlife Hospital Veterinarian, Dr Peter McKinney, to go into care with a registered wildlife carer. He will be looked after and medicated until his condition has improved, and then be released onto the property from which he was rescued.

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

The possum sitting undercover at the property

The team quickly capture the possum into a soft catch bag

The Mountain Brushtail Possum under anaesthetic at the AWH

Cory and Jenny were called out to rescue a Tommy Round Head dragon from Sunrise Beach – the property backed onto Noosa National Park – a haven for wildlife!

This little dragon had been picked up by the property owner’s dog, and fearing for the dragon’s safety, she had managed to get it out of the dog’s mouth, and hold onto it till rescuers arrived!

The team quickly transported him back to the Australian Wildlife Hospital for treatment!

Did you know that the scientific name for a Tommy Round Head Dragon is Diporiphora australis

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

Cory and James received a call from Maroochydore about an injured Black Swan in their lake area. The team headed straight out and quickly set about catching the swan!

Cory fed the swan to get it closer and closer to the team. James waited to the right moment, and was able to successfully net it so that Cory could jump in to get the swan out of the water – Great work guys!!

Once on dry land the guys were able to see the full extent of the swan’s injuries, it had a hook and line attached to its bottom jaw and was in a considerable amount of pain! The team carefully removed the hook and cleaned up the injury – Lucky for this little fella, he was able to be released straight away! Hopefully he’ll stay away from fishing tackle this time!

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

Cory secures the Swan after being netted by James

James assesses the injury to the beak

The team remove the entanglement

I’ve just finished reading Terri Irwin’s book, ‘My Steve’. Hearing all of their adventures together made me laugh and cry.

I was at the zoo a few days ago and thats where I got the book. It took me only about 3 days to finish it. I never knew much about the Irwin family, untill I read that book. Hearing about their adventures together made me relise that they were made for eachother. Which made it harder not to cry when reading the last few pages of the book. It broke my heart that they only had 14 years together, when some people get 80. It’s weird how he somehow new that there wasn’t long left.

Now I feel deeply for the whole Irwin family and I can’t stop thinking about the book. I hope the Irwin family will keep going, forfilling Steve’s dreams, and theirs. I hope they can save Steve’s Place aswell, and I can’t wait to visit the zoo again.

What Happened

A monsoon low moved into south-west Queensland bringing record falls to many usually parched areas of the state. Quilpie and Charleville have had more than 140 millimetres since 9am AEST, March 1,  and in Birdsville records were made by the rain with nearly 200 millimetres in the two days before. The monsoon low was combining with another system off the south-east coast that was bringing driving rain from the Sunshine Coast to the Gold Coast.

In the south-east, the heaviest falls have been north of Brisbane, as another low off the south coast delivers heavy rain from the Sunshine Coast to the border. The Sunshine Coast received the heaviest falls with more than 150 millimetres overnight. Some roads were cut and residents in low-lying areas were being warned to prepare for flooding.

My Thoughts

I was REALLY worried for Steve’s Place! I thought of what could happen to the animals and actually began to cry. Please, sign the petition to Save Steve’s Place. It matters ALOT to me. I have grown up to be an animal lover and Steve Irwin is my hero and he is exactly what I want to be. Please, just give your name to the petition, that’s all I’m asking. Help save those animals! I saw the pictures. Maybe that’s what it will take for you, but just sign. Please!

Briano and Kado headed out to a very exciting rescue where they found an Eastern Brown Snake caught in netting. The net was so tightly wound around the snakes neck that the team had to bring it back to the AWH for treatment.

Check out www.australiazoo.tv and watch this episode - find out what happens next!
Until next time - If you see any sick or injured wildlife - Please call Australia Zoo on 5436 2000!

Eastern Brown Snake caught in Netting!

The Rescue crew received a call from a concerned farmer at Nanango, approximately two hours west of Australia Zoo. The farmer had spotted a large Bird of Prey on his property, and as time went on, the majestic bird had not moved, and he grew more and more concerned. Toby, James and Andy set out on a bit of a mission to rescue the Eagle!

The crew arrived at the property and were pleased to see a Wedge Tailed Eagle. These amazing birds have a wing span of approximately 2.5 metres! We see very few of these amazing birds every year because their habitat is west of the zoo.

Unfortunately today, this beautiful bird was not doing so well. As the team approached the large dead tree that the Eagle was perched on, he moved and attempted to fly, but without success. He jumped to the ground and the team quickly captured him.

On closer inspection, he was suffering from a broken wing, probably from a car hit on the nearby highway. He was transported to the Australian Wildlife Hospital by the Rescue Crew and seen by our Veterinary team!

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

Toby with the majestic Eagle

Sitting in the dead tree

Andy and Kado had just completed a rescue down at Bribie Island when they received a frantic call from local residents; a wallaby had entered their yard and was not able to get out! Sometimes the rescue team strike it lucky by just being in the right place at the right time!

The Rescue team arrived on site, to find that the wallaby had already jumped into the swimming pool and was showing signs of stress. Andy was able to scale the pool fence from outside the yard, and carefully lift the wallaby out of the water. Kado administered a sedative drug and the team were able to transport it quickly back to the Australian Wildlife Hospital for veterinary treatment.

If you see any sick or injured wildlife – Please call Australia Zoo Rescue on 5436 2000

Andy carefully lifts the Wallaby out of the Pool