The Australia Zoo Rescue unit are out and about every day in South East Queensland rescuing car loads of Wildlife, so we get to see a lot of animals! It always surprises us when we see something different!

This was definitely the case when Andy took these photos of a speckled Magpie, very different to the normal colouration of our Australian Magpies. As you can see in the photos, the Speckled Magpie is very different to the normal colouration of the Magpie that Cory is holding.

A 'Speckled' Australian Magpie.

A normal colouration for an Australian Magpie

Colour variation occurs in so many different species, and can be attributed to not only different stages of development, but also habitat adaptations and genetics.

Take a look at the photos of the Eastern Brown Snakes – Here we have three animals of the same species, but with completely different colours!

Eastern Brown Snake

Eastern Brown Snake

and another Eastern Brown Snake!

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

The Australia Zoo Rescue Unit received a call from a distressed home owner in Maroochydore recently regarding a little Magpie Lark (also known as a Pee Wee) which had fishing line caught around it’s legs and was further entangled on their television antennae.

With the expertise of the Rescue Team on hand, Briano was able to successfully untangle the fishing line from around the Magpie Lark’s legs, and luckily it had sustained no injuries from the entrapment, so was able to be released straight away. The Magpie Lark quickly flew away, straight into the nearest bird bath for a well deserved bath!

Already this year, the Australia Zoo Rescue Unit has rescued around 200 birds entangled by fishing tackle. Sadly, this is an all too common fate for many of Australia’s native wildlife. If not untangled straight away, fishing tackle entanglements can lead to serious, painful injuries for these birds.

You can help many of Australia’s native bird species by simply disposing of your fishing tackle in the bin. Never throw your fishing tackle in the water or leave it lying around on the ground for an unsuspecting victim. If you see any wildlife entangled in fishing tackle please call the Australia Zoo Rescue Unit on 5436 2000.

Magpie Lark being freed from the antenna

Next, remove the fishing line

A well deserved bath!

Can you imagine, being stuck in a gutter, three stories high on a house in smoking hot Queensland weather? Well, this magpie struck it lucky when the home owners looked up at their roof from 15 metres below and saw a little magpie head pop over the gutter!

The home owners knew something was up as the Magpie cried out for help! Immediately they called the Australia Zoo Rescue Unit to come and help out. Andy and Kado quickly drove up to Eumundi, and carefully climbed onto the roof.

They found the Magpie immediately and Andy slowly and carefully went about extracting him from the guttering. He had lost a lot of blood, and was very dehydrated, so the team quickly transported him back to the Australian Wildlife Hospital for treatment!

If you find any native animals that are sick and injured (Or stuck in a gutter) please call Australia Zoo on 5436 2000

Can you imagine being trapped up there?

Safe at last!

Spring has sprung and so has baby bird season! Quite often baby birds can encounter a bit of ‘tough love’ from their parents as they encourage them and teach them to fly!

This juvenile Whistling Kite got the rough end of the stick when it took its first flight - and flew straight into Pumicestone Passage! The tide was coming in and he drifted down the passage a few kilometres before some members of the public were able to fish him out of the water! They let him dry off for an hour or so, but before the AZRU team could get there to check it out, they released him into a nearby tree.

Later that day, the AZRU team received another phone call about a Bird of Prey swimming in the passage. We hurried there to find that a member of the public had taken his kayak into the passage and used his towel to wrap up the Kite and bring him to shore - a job very well done! We transported him to the AWH for treatment, and he will be released very soon!

If you find wildlife that you believe is sick or injured, call Australia Zoo Rescue on 5436 2000, and don’t forget to stay with the animal!

Out on the kayak

The poor little guy is soaked!

He's in safe hands now

Sometimes our Rescue team is called out west of the Zoo for critically sick or injured animals. A family had been camping at Somerset Dam when they spotted a Koala at night time, walking around on the ground looking confused and noticed it had a stained brown bottom.

The family managed to corral the Koala into a wheelie bin turned on its side, closed the lid and in the morning they called Australia Zoo Rescue! The Rescue Unit arrived to find everyone eating breakfast – even the Koala; they managed to find some yummy Eucalyptus to feed him in the wheelie bin!

The Rescue crew brought the Koala back to the Wildlife Hospital, where he is currently undergoing a treatment for Chlamydia. If you spot any Koalas with dirty or stained bottoms, or even clouded, swollen eyes, please call Australia Zoo Rescue on 5436 2000!

Somerset the Koala in the Wheelie Bin!Briano getting Somerset out of the binSomerset getting ready for transport back to the hospital

Dear Bindi, I am six years old, and i love you so much. I have been to Australia zoo for the first time in the NSW October school holidays. I bought some things too! I hope you and Robert are looking forward to Christmas with your mum and Australia Zoo family. Merry Chrictmas love from maddie26 xoxox

Hello!

My name is Alexandria Ladwig and I am so excited to be here at Australia Zoo website. I love Steve Irwin and I have been a fan of Steve since when I was little, plus after he passed away. I want to thank you and I hope everybody has a fabulous day.

*Alexandria Ladwig

Hello everybody

My mum is helping me write this.  My name is Anna, and I am 5.  This year, for my birthday which was in November I had a “Bindi” party.  Instead of birthday presents, I asked all my friends to donate money so I could adopt some animals.  As a result, I have adopted “Jaffa” the koala, and “Casper” the crocodile.  Also, instead of presents for my cousins this year, our family are adopting animalsfor them….four of them!!!! I am visiting my Grandma and Grandpa on the Sunshine Coast for Christmas and have asked Santa to bring me a “Bindi” hat and a day at Australia zoo on Boxing Day so I can see Bindi.  I love her very much and have most of her DVD’s.  I do hope Santa can bring me that.  Love Anna

In our world today we have a horrifc crime going on involving our beautiful wildlife and endangered animals. Many animals are illegally caught from the wild, put in tiny cages and transported many kilometers to where the still alive animals are illegally sold to make a few dollars profit. The animals including: all sort of birds and mammals (most are endangered) are put in cages that do not even allow much movement then put in trucks to be transported long distances usually with no food or water meaning dehydration and lack of nutrients meaning more then half are found dead on arrival. The still barely alive animals are then taken illegally to all sorts of carnivals markets or even pet shops to be sold to passing traverlers and locals all to make a few dollars profit. This has a major impact on the wild population of endangered and threatned animals. YOU CAN HELP by not purchasing any live animals while traveling as this will reduce the amount animals taken from the wild. ALSO Many animals including our gorgeous tigers are hunted illegally only for their skin to be sold as coats blankets etc. you can help stop this from occuring by not purchansing any dead animal items.

THANK YOU

WILDLIFE warrior Steven Benbrook, 13

It’s just amazing the legacy this man has left….

Here is a photo of my sons Ihaia (5) and Matty (3) who just adore animals and love Steve Irwin’s documentries and watching Bindi - I hope where ever Steve is he is proud to know that his legacy lives on not only in his own children’s hearts but in the heart’s of children everywhere….

WE LOVE SNAKES!!!