Wildlife Victoria Bushfire Update - DONATE 1300 859453

A quick update on the fires and how much needed funds are being utilised:

Twelve wildlife shelters across the state have been seriously affected by the devastating fires. We are doing what we can to get these shelters up and going as soon as we can.

Wildlife Victoria volunteers have scouted large areas of burnt bushland and have already rescued 100s of animals from the fire grounds. We are continuing to take teams into areas and more animals are being found and saved every day, receiving emergency first aid followed by longer term treatment and care. We even brought in expert search and rescue teams from NSW to help us out with the mammoth task on the ground.

We have done what we can to relieve the suffering of burnt animals quickly, setting up triage centres for emergency treatment and doing food drops for animals we can't find or reach.

We are organising the distribution of $50,000 (or more if the need arises) worth of food supplies for animals who have survived the fires but are now starving because their food source is now gone. We are putting flyers out to let people know what is appropriate food for our wildlife, we have a dedicated person who will manage this for the next six months and we will then review and continue if needs are still apparent.

We are supplying vets with supplies they need to cover the wildlife (and some other animals), including the Kinglake vet clinic that was burnt down where we are providing support for medical supplies, veterinarian staff, and logistical support.

We are supplying temporary cages, food for the animals, medical supplies for shelters whose equipment was burnt, we are also making cash grants to shelters who are caring for burnt wildlife just to help out with things like petrol etc. We have a dedicated volunteer calling and visiting shelters to make sure they are OK. We have Melbourne Zoo and Healesville Sanctuary vets on standby to make house-calls if our shelters are too busy to go out. We are supplying fire-proof safety gear for volunteer shelter operators to wear while out on their own properties, caring for wildlife that is coming to them. We are doing all we can to ensure the volunteers and the animals have everything they need to have the best possible chance of recovery and long term survival.

We are undertaking a comprehensive advertising campaign to give members of the public some strategic information about assessing if wildlife is injured or unwell. We hope that this will then add more 'eyes and ears' out there helping us find some of the animals out there that still need our help in recuperation.

I can report that 'Koala Sam' is doing well, responding to treatment, and is at this stage likely to make a full recovery. Sam had many other 'family' members who came into care in Gippsland and we are supporting the team down there with medical supplies, veterinary support including supply of drugs to the local vets.

We brought out another 17 koalas from another area of burnt bush (near Colac) and taken them into care. The koalas had been burnt a week earlier, and were severely dehydrated so our rescuers got there just in time. We have had a large number of koalas found in the Taggerty area in real need of care and they are now being looked after by a licensed wildlife carer. The team in Yea is doing a great job and Andrew, the local wildlife carer is busy giving them the best possible care.

We have specialised kangaroo assessors going out to areas where large mobs are spotted near the fire areas to make sure that none there are burnt or injured. We have a team of darters on standby so we can capture any animal that needs closer assessment.

Just one koala in care costs around $400 per week (including burns creams, dressings, IV fluids, food, antibiotics and general care) and rehabilitation can take many months before the koala can be successfully released back to its natural habitat.

The recuperation and recovery of the animal victims will take many months, the recovery of their habitats, food supplies and bushland will take years.

Your donation will make a huge difference to our capacity to get resources on the ground quickly and save as many animals' lives as possible.

Just a reminder that regular updates are available, including becoming a Wild Friend, Member, and other important information by visiting www.wildlifevictoria.org.au or calling 1300 859453

Regards,

Wildlife Victoria

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News & Politics

[Evilenlil]

I went to mount Dissapointment on Monday, near Kinglake. There is little regrowth as most of the 10 metre trees are dead but there is some Kangaroo scats. I am surprised that any animals survived.