Support Australian wildlife rescue to release

So often, our work is about providing second chances for the survivors of very sad situations. Against the relentless pressures of land clearing, urban development and increasingly extreme weather events, our work to rescue displaced, injured and orphaned wildlife is becoming a vital part of securing the survival of some of our most vulnerable native species.  

In Tasmania, a young Rufous-bellied pademelon was orphaned after his mother was caught on a barbed wire fence.Whilst the mother sadly died on her way to the vets, her joey was unharmed, and was found in bushes just a few metres from his mother. 

He was distressed and hungry but otherwise in good condition. It took a long time for our Emergency Responder to capture the joey, as he needed to work quietly and gently so as not to cause additional stress.  

The orphaned joey was transported in our Wildlife Ambulance for a medical check, and is now with his long-term carer, where he'll remain until he's old enough to be released into suitable habitat. 

Meanwhile in Western Sydney, a factory worker discovered an unfortunate Blue Tongue Lizard who’d become stuck to a glue trap on the factory floor. They quickly called WIRES for help. 

We dispatched our Emergency Responder Hannah, in one of our Wildlife Ambulances, which are fully equipped with both rescue and medical equipment. 

Hannah noted the lizard’s entire side was stuck in glue and it was completely unable to move. However it was also bright and alert and had no actual injuries from the glue. 

She carefully removed all traces of glue from the lizard using olive oil, was able to gently remove the lizard from the trap. She then used saline to remove the oil.  

After a thorough health check he was relocated to nearby bushland for immediate release. 

These are just two of the 200,000 calls for rescue we receive yearly. On behalf of these two little survivors, thank you.