Wanting to be a writer nearly forever I think this is a good chance to let MY voice and MY opinion be heard!

We as the public need to have a voice, we cant just let the ‘bigger person’ knock us down time after time which is what I have learnt after being told ‘NO!’ so many times. This is where I can stand up-in my writing! And bring people together to show the ‘bigger person’ that they aret bigger than us after all.

As the more fortunate people we need to have a voice and stand up not only for us but for those who dont have a voice……the animals! There are sooo many animals out there suffereing because we dont stand up for what we believe is right. Well it is never too late! NOW is the time to let these beautiful creatures that we share this land with that we are here to protect them. We need to stop the Whaling, stop the Seal slaughtering, stop the animal abuse and cruelty and give these animals a better life.

So stand up and let your voice be heard!

Im letting my voice be heard……so why dont you?

By Jaden

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

This week’s patient profile features a Red-necked Wallaby orphan named Dale.

Dale is fourteen months old and has been in care for the past eight months with a macropod carer in western Queensland. Dale was fortunately rescued after a member of the public took the time to stop her car and check inside the pouch of a dead female wallaby lying on the side of the Moonee Highway.

Incredibly, just two hours earlier the same lady had also checked another dead wallaby and rescued her six-month-old joey. The first joey was named Chip. The two just-furred joeys were taken to a carer to be raised.

Over time, as the boys started to explore outside their pouches they became best buddies, and even when their carer placed them in individual pouches after each four hourly feed, by the next feed the two were fast asleep side by side in one pouch.

After developing diarrhoea and a bloated foregut, Dale was kindly transported to the Australian Wildlife Hospital by a wildlife carer who lives out at Chinchilla, when he heard that Dale’s carer was unable to make the road trip herself.

Dale was placed on I.V. fluids and is bottle fed 30mls of macropod milk formula every six hours, plus he has a bucket of fresh grass, macropod pellets and a bowl of water next to his bed in the Intensive Care Nursery.

Sadly, Dale’s conditioned worsened last week. Dr Robyn, assisted by two nurses, prepped Dale for surgery and at approximately 6pm undertook an exploratory laparotomy (on Dale’s abdominal region) which revealed inflammation to his gut. Dale came through surgery but early the next morning, Dale’s condition deteriorated rapidly. Dr Robyn made the heart-wrenching decision to euthanize Dale.

The weeks ahead will be emotionally challenging for Dale’s carer and his best buddy Chip. Our hearts go out to you both.

Please call the Australian Wildlife Hospital on 1300 369 652 for all wildlife emergencies.

Java, a juvenile Jabiru, was initially admitted to the Australian Wildlife Hospital just over two weeks ago, after being seen sitting alone on the Wynnum foreshore for two days before local seabird rescuers were notified and he was rescued.

Weighing only 3.7kg he was extremely weak and could not even sit upright. To make matters worse his eyes were half closed and he was “open mouth” breathing which is never a good sign in any species. Java’s fragile state was considered so serious Dr Amber decided not to use anaesthetic; instead Java was gently held and supported while Dr Amber completed an examination which included taking blood and x-rays.

The blood tests showed no abnormalities and the x-rays were clear so Dr Amber prescribed a long-acting antibiotic, plus a dose of wormer for intestinal worms and parasites.

Overnight Java was placed on I.V. fluids and he was also tube fed a mixture of blended fish, meat, protein mix and water. Incredibly Java was sitting upright on his hocks the next morning and his breathing was back to normal.

After a re-check Dr Amber decided to transfer Java into the care of seabird rehabilitators. Four days later on his next re-check with Dr Amber, Java’s weight had increased to 4.2kg, he was able to sit up on his own, and he was subsequently taken off the I.V. fluids.

This week Java is standing, he is bright, alert and feeding on his own, and his outlook is very promising for release back to the wild in the coming months.

Jabiru, or Black Neck Stork, are Australia’s only stork species. Inhabiting the northern regions of Australia, they favour wetlands where they hunt for fish, amphibians and crustaceans. These majestic birds stand up to 1.35 meters tall, their body plumage is black and white with a shiny green/purple neck and they have contrasting red bare legs.

Sam the Carpet Python was taken to the Samford Valley Vet Clinic after being badly mauled by a dog. The Australia Zoo Rescue Unit was contacted to transfer Sam to the Australian Wildlife Hospital at Australia Zoo for specialist veterinary treatment and care.

Sam had suffered deep punctures over her head and along the entire length of her 4.7 kg body. As she lay writhing in pain on the ground her mouth and wounds became plastered in dirt.

On assessment Dr Claude had to first sedate Sam so she could remove all the dirt from her mouth and place an anaesthetic breathing tube down her trachea. The deep puncture wounds were cleaned and sutured. Sam’s head was badly swollen and she had substantial deep muscle damage. Dr Claude prescribed strong pain relief, anti inflammatories and antibiotics to ward off any infection that could be caused by transferred bacteria from the dog’s teeth.

Sam will have her stitches removed in four weeks. She will then be transferred to a reptile carer for monitoring until she has her next skin shed. If Dr Claude is happy with her recovery she will be sent out for release. If her injuries have not healed, Sam will remain with a carer until her second shed.

Reptiles feel pain just like we do. Sadly, they don’t have vocal cords to cry or scream out, so they suffer in silence. Most wild animals will not make a make a fuss when sick or injured, as it will draw the attention of a predator. Instead they sit quietly. Always remember, if the injury would be painful for a human, it is also painful for an animal, so please seek medical attention.

Call the Australian Wildlife Hospital on 1300 369 652 for all wildlife emergencies.

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

Millie the echidna was rescued from the Caboolture area, just 15 minutes from Australia Zoo. She was found badly mauled by a pet dog.

The dog’s owner discovered Millie at about 8pm and called the Moreton Bay Koala Rescue volunteer group for help.

One of the dedicated members responded to the call and upon arrival realised Millie needed urgent medical attention. She transported Millie to the Australian Wildlife Hospital, which fortunately operates 24-hours.

Millie was placed under anaesthetic so Dr Robyn could check her injuries. The assessment revealed an open bite wound, roughly the size of a fifty cent piece on Millie’s lower back, plus many grazes and broken quills. X-rays also revealed that Millie had suffered a fractured pelvis, which accounted for her reluctance to walk or climb.

Dr Robyn cleaned and flushed the open wound before suturing the muscle and skin back together. Millie has been prescribed pain relief, anti-biotics and anti-inflammitories along with lots of cage rest while she recovers.

While in care at the Australian Wildlife Hospital, Millie is being served a special Echidna diet of high protein mix, which is certainly easier than digging for ants and termites.

Millie is expected to be in care for at least six weeks while she recovers from her injuries.

Echidnas are found throughout Australia and are covered with strong pointed spines for protection. When in danger, the echidna pulls its head in and curls up into a ball to protect its stomach.

Call the Australian Wildlife Hospital on 1300 369 652 for all wildlife emergencies.

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

Last week the rescue team were called out to another macropod rescue, where a Kangaroo was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time!

Kate C and Andy were called out to this female Eastern Grey Kangaroo in the North Brisbane area that had been stuck in mud in a construction site all weekend. Luckily the construction workers had been able to pull her out of the mud hole she was stuck in, and find her some refuge in the bucket of an excavator, unfortunately she was suffering from a severe case of Myopathy and in need of urgent medical attention.

The team were able to get there very soon after the initial call, and quickly made the decision to take her back to the Australian Wildlife Hospital. Once she was under anaesthetic, Kate and Andy did a thorough assessment and found that she had a tiny joey in the pouch that had already passed away. The team quickly transported her back to the AWH for treatment.

This week, the Australian Wildlife Hospital received a very interesting patient identified as a juvenile Australasian Grebe. This is a waterbird that we don’t often see at the Australian Wildlife Hospital, but they are can be found across Australia in ponds, lakes, swamps and dams.

Bobby was found in the Morayfield area by a member of the public who took him to a wildlife carer. Bobby was then transferred to the Australian Wildlife Hospital for treatment of an injury to his face.

Once Bobby was under anaesthetic, his vet was able to closely examine his injury, but found it to be only a superficial wound. This was great news as these birds are by nature highly susceptible to stress in captivity. Bobby’s wound was cleaned and he was given a long acting anti-biotic and subcutaneous fluids. Bobby was released later that same afternoon back to his wetlands home.

Australasian Grebe as their name suggests are found right across Australia and the Pacific region. They inhabit areas of fresh water and dive underwater to catch fish and water insects which they eat. When feeling threatened by a predator, Australasian Grebes dive underwater and resurfaces well away from the danger. Grebes are also often seen eating their own feathers and feeding them to their young, which is thought to be a behaviour to prevent injury when swallowing fish bones.

Call the Australian Wildlife Hospital on 1300 369 652 for all wildlife emergencies.