Wildlife Carers

"In an irresponsible and callous move and buried in the discussion paper of the Authority To Control Wildlife Review, the Daniel Andrews’ Government has signalled interest in adopting a policy that will see ALL sick, injured and orphaned kangaroos, wombats, possums and cockatoos KILLED instead of rescued and rehabilitated. This short-sighted and catastrophic policy may act to drive wildlife carers underground and will see members of the public refusing to hand over animals to vets and shelters in the fear that joeys and saveable animals will be automatically killed, resulting in horrendous and widespread animal suffering." (Helen Round, Wildlife carer, Macedon Ranges, Victoria.)

Text of letter to media

As one of the wildlife carers in Victoria, who shoulders much of the cost and responsibility of caring for sick, orphaned and injured wildlife in Victoria, I am writing to you because of a recent horrific proposal coming from the Andrews' State Government that could force Victorian wildlife carers to kill all healthy, saveable and viable kangaroos, wombats, possums and cockatoos that come in to care.

It’s a tough life being a volunteer. Apart from the exhausting, relentlessly routine physical work involved in wildlife rehabilitation, (cleaning pens & feed bins, round the clock feeding schedules), there’s the financial outlay on items like feeding equipment, cloth pouches, towels, fencing materials, veterinary medications, petrol and electricity bills.

Wildlife carers – who are mostly overtired, under resourced and overstretched women – are currently fighting a state government proposal that will result in mass animal deaths and horrific and widespread animal suffering. But, we need to be visible to be effective and that is why I am writing to you.

Authority to control wildlife - culling abuses

In an irresponsible and callous move and buried in the discussion paper of the Authority To Control Wildlife Review, the Daniel Andrews’ Government has signalled interest in adopting a policy that will see ALL sick, injured and orphaned kangaroos, wombats, possums and cockatoos KILLED instead of rescued and rehabilitated. This short-sighted and catastrophic policy may act to drive wildlife carers underground and will see members of the public refusing to hand over animals to vets and shelters in the fear that joeys and saveable animals will be automatically killed, resulting in horrendous and widespread animal suffering.

As they rescue and rehabilitate injured and orphaned wildlife, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, hundreds, if not thousands, of trained, experienced and self-funded volunteer wildlife carers and rescuers provide a service to the community that the public expect and the government fails to and cannot hope to provide.

Shockingly, volunteers fund all wildlife rescue and rehabilitation from their own pockets with no funding from the state government apart from a tokenistic and inadequate annual wildlife shelter grant system. Yet the Andrews’ Government is planning to deprive the community of this invaluable service, declaring that it is too costly to raise these animals and that they want to free up shelter resources. This is a cynical and disingenuous ploy and an insulting falsehood from a government who does not fund wildlife rescue and rehabilitation and support a raft of policies that are detrimental to wildlife across all sectors.

No one else can give the same level of service with the commitment, dedication and efficiency that existing volunteer wildlife carers and rescuers provide. No Government budget would be big enough and no department would be competent enough to achieve the same outcomes.

As carers and rescuers, we are committed to rescuing injured animals and we will continue to rescue and euthanise when necessary but, we will not become Daniel Andrew’s ‘killing machines’ to slaughter viable and healthy animals. We will not facilitate a policy that is morally corrupt and that has no scientific merit.

It is incomprehensible that politicians and bureaucrats have not considered the psychological impact these cruel policies will have on wildlife rescuers, carers and veterinarians who will be expected to kill viable animals, let alone the impact on members of the community who also encounter wildlife in need.

The fate of Victoria’s native wildlife is in the hands of a mega-department with interests that conflict with flora and fauna conservation and that is actively working to harm and exploit wildlife for political and economic gain.

I want to ask everyone to contact Victorian parliamentarians and remind them that wildlife and wildlife volunteers are valued, that Australia has the highest rate of mammalian extinction on the planet and that all ‘threatened’ and ‘extinct species’ were once considered ‘common and secure’.

Eve Kelly, who is the very hard working Secretary for the Australian Wildlife Protection Council (AWPC), is also a wonderful singer and songwriter. She composed and performed this song with Josh Geoghegan. She then uploaded pictures of rescued baby wildlife from friends and contacts all over the place. So the song is illustrated with many wonderful pictures - in fact, they get better as it goes on. It will probably make you sniffle a bit but you will feel better to know that Eve is working for AWPC. Please consider donating to AWPC here and here online. The money will be very well spent. AWPC is engaged at a level I have not seen before for wildlife or wildlife carers. Such is the predicament of our wildlife in the face of 'planning' and population growth and the most unsympathetic government departments you could imagine.

Over the last few months there has been an alarming increase in the numbers of juvenile Eastern Grey Kangaroo's being found either dead or in a very lethargic state and near death in parts of the ACT and adjacent New South Wales. Rosemary and Steve Garlic, who are wildlife carers in the area, were initially contacted by a few Wildcare carers and the issue then seemed to be centred around the Wamboin/Norton Road area. This article was developed from an internal note to members of Wildcare, of which Steve and Rosemary Garlic are members and Helen Stevens is the coordinator.

The situation now seems to be far more widespread as Wildcare have now received sick animals from Queanbeyan NSW, Jerrabomberra NSW, the ACT, Sutton NSW, and this week Burra, near Queenbeyan. Between Rosemary/Steve and myself we have dealt with or known of 60 suspected cases and it is very distressing.

The animals affected appear to be last years offspring ranging from 8kgs to 18kgs. They are either being found dead, with no appearance of injury, in paddocks etc or are showing signs of weight loss, lethargy allowing them to be rescued easily and are hypothermic.

All that have come into care have died, usually between 1 and 24 hours later despite all our efforts as well as medical attention. Contrary to what some believe, it is not starvation due to over population as they are usually still eating and passing normal faeces and post mortem has shown digested food in the stomach and formed pellets in the intestine.

Wildcare are working closely with NPWS, DPI, Australian Registry for Wildlife Health and some of our local vets to try to identify the cause of this unusual occurance and the situation has been escalated to an alert as some national parks in the ACT are recording very high numbers too.

A number of deceased animals have been transported to Sydney for further examination and testing but at the moment results have been unable to identify what is causing the fatal decline in these joeys.

Upon post mortem the 5 animals that have been examined by our local wildlife vet Dr Howard Ralph, and the vets at DPI and the Taronga Conservation Society have all shown fluid in the peritoneal cavity (ascites) and some showing fluid around other major organs.

The majority seem to have a very high number of nematodes (worms) in the intestine but the question is still "why" as parasites will increase if an animal's immune system is compromised.

We are not seeing young in pouch joeys, who would be receiving antibodies via their mothers milk, or adults, who have developed immune systems, affected.

Investigations are looking at possible virus, parasite/protozoa infestation, transmission by ticks (as in Babesia), plant poisoning etc. So far post mortem results have been negative for Babesia and Phyllaris grass poisoning (hundreds of kangaroos are dying from this in Victoria around Bendigo, Kilmore and Broadford) but more testing is needed to compare cases and to continue to try to find a common cause which will hopefully lead to a treatment path if the animal is viable.

What can you do to help?

Not only do we need to document any possible cases but we require more testing to be carried out by the NPWS suggested agencies.

Please let Wildcare know asap if

a) you come across an animal that appears to be affected - they will usually be alone, appear underweight, may have aeroplane (floppy) ears and do not try to escape/move off if approached;

b) you find a fresh deceased juvenile kangaroo that appears to have no external injury;

c) your friends/neighbours mention finding a number of young kangaroo bodies over the last few months.

If I receive any news regarding possible diagnosis I will send out an update as I know many are very worried about this.

Source: Helen Stevens, Wildcare Macropod Co-ordinator, Oolandra Wildlife Sanctuary, 02 62991966

http://wombatawareness.com/2015/02/UPDATE 26-02-2015 - The millionaire bequest fell through! Brigitte and the wombats of South Australia are now facing a truly awful situation. She has set up a donation site in absolute desperation, no amount too small: https://www.chuffed.org/project/wombatssoontobehomeless and we hope our readers will spread this news. No-one else is helping the wombats in SA on a large scale and long term; wombats are starving, dying of mange and being killed by cars and farmers. As you know they are adorable and precious... and really worth saving. Thanks for any help.

The strange and unforgivable decline in wombat appreciation in the 20th century

The reputation of the wombat declined over the 20th century and is now at an unforgivable all time low. People may be interested to read "Rossetti's Wombat: A Pre-Raphaelite Obsession in Victorian England". This lecture by Harold White Fellow, Angus Trumble, at the National Library of Australia, Canberra, 16 April, 2003, gives a little-known history of wombat appreciation in Britain by 19th century poets, who called the wombat "the most beautiful creature of all". Here is a quote from a description written about 200 years ago, about a pet wombat which was taken to England (not that we approve the kidnapping of wombats to England):

"The wombat, burrowed in the ground whenever it had an opportunity, and covered itself in the earth with surprising quickness. It was quiet during the day, but constantly in motion in the night: was very sensible to cold; ate all kinds of vegetables; but was particularly fond of new hay, which it ate stalk by stalk, taking it into its mouth like a beaver, by small bits at a time. It was not wanting in intelligence, and appeared attached to those to whom it was accustomed, and who were kind to it. When it saw them, it would put up its forepaws on the knee, and when taken up would sleep in the lap. It allowed children to pull and carry it about, and when it bit them did not appear to do it in anger or with violence."

Whilst we do not approve of kidnapping wombats, we do approve the peaceful and positive interaction with them and wonder why it does not happen more frequently in Australia. Perhaps it is because we have been misled by our governments and education system to believe that they are unapproachable. Maybe this is another case for Gloria O'Possum to investigate.

Wombat Awareness Organisation Ltd., Research Conservation Education Rescue Unit

A hairy-nosed wombat community at Portee Station where this rare and persecuted animal is being rehabilitated and protected.

The site of the Wombat Awareness Organisation Ltd., Research Conservation Education Rescue Unit tells the rest of the 20th and 21st century story and that is where to go to purchase a little piece of outback Australia for the wonderful hairy-nosed wombat.
Here is a delightful film (link has been updated to new address)about this wombat refugee community in South Australia, run by Brigitte Stevens and her partner, Frank Mikela. It certainly bears out the earlier reputation of the wombat as a lovable and cuddly animal.

You may also sponsor a wombat, like this one, called, "Turty"

It is great to see a big effort being made to help wombats and the people who care for them with such dedication.

UPDATE September 21, 2010Millionaire bequest due in 12 months - but money urgently needed now

Brigitte Stevens still needs funding urgently, but urgently only for another 12 months or so, when the release of the first million dollar installment of an $8m bequest is scheduled to come through. Only recently has the news arrived that a US horse-racing millionaire has left to this organisation for wombats!

The millionaire's family has chosen to remain anonymous. According to Kim Wheatley, "US millionaire leaves estate to Wombat Awareness Organisation, the millionaire visited the organisation a couple of years ago to meet wild wombats.

He was shown the shameful conditions in which the South Australian government's laws and wildlife monitoring have reduced the wild population.

"I took him out into the wild population and showed him wombats with mange, wombats that were starving to death and wombats with burrows from motorbike tyres," she said.

Brigitte has another paid job just to pay the bills the organisation generates. According to Kim Wheatley's article, last year's vet fees amounted to $70,000. Now Brigitte hopes to buy two new properties and to run a 24 hour free veterinary advice clinic.

Ms Stevens - who works to help pay bills, including last year's $70,000 vet fees - wants to buy two properties in the Murraylands and run a 24-hour free vet advice phone clinic. But she is having trouble simply maintaining the Wombat Awareness Organisation at the minute, since the first installment of this bequest is still a long way off - around 12 months.

Please consider helping these kind and dedicated people to make it through to the time this windfall arrives.

Human officials just seems to dream up worse and worse situations for kangaroos and carers. Wildlife activists often go to considerable expense to try to help government plan to transfer kangaroos out of the way of new roads and housing developments instead of shooting them. The usual response is that it is too difficult to transport kangaroos. The wildlife rescuers keep a watch, but usually one day they find that the kangaroos have all gone. Then someone will find some mass graves. But, when it suits the government, it seems it's all too easy to transport kangaroos, with police escorts no less.

Looking at this picture of police cars outside a bush-setting home, you could be forgiven for thinking this was a stake-out in a hostage situation. But it was actually an uninvited transport team for a couple of hand-reared kangaroos, and a slap in the face for their carer.

Mad laws create havoc

Tonight I received two pieces of news about kangaroos that highlighted the utter hypocrisy and cruel stupidity of Australian wildlife laws. One was from the owner of a wildlife sanctuary, who described how wildlife activists had managed to rescue and transport kangaroos away from a planned cull and had wanted him to take some in. He said that, not only did he have room for them at the time, but he was happy to take them. Only, the law said that he could not accept wild kangaroos. The law said the roos had to be released into the wild. But there is less and less 'wild' left, and they had already been transported away (at considerable cost) from 'wild' that was being turned into housing lots.

Colin Candy's kangaroos

The second piece of news was that Queenslander Colin Candy's pet kangaroos had been seized in another raid by the police and transported away in crates to the 'wild'. Colin is beside himself because he had rescued these kangaroos and raised them. They have never known the 'wild', with the exception of a little bit of it at the end of his back yard, which has a few acres of bush.

"I travelled to Charleville in July 2009, and approached several shooters and the kangaroo abattoir, asking if someone would save me a joey. But everyone knocked me back saying that that they kill the young and leave them in the paddock.

While driving around Charleville I noticed a sign, wanting to buy kangaroo meat. So I phoned the owner of the sign, and he told me that he also shot roos and if he happened to come across any joeys that he would save them for me.

Next day he phoned to say that he had 2. So I gratefully picked them up and brought them back to Hervey Bay, where they bred, and I hand raised half of the joeys while leaving half with their mum.

We finished fencing this place at Apple Tree Creek late in March 2014, and I caught the hand raised kangaroos and relocated them here, while I couldn’t catch the kangaroos raised by their mum. Those kangaroos I gave to a wildlife park in Maryborough on the 1st April 2014.

None of the kangaroos have any idea, what it is like to live in the wild. As you have stated, kangaroos in Qld don’t get to live much past two years of age, with most being shot before they have even reproduced." (Colin's communication to the author of this article.)

Within days the same agency that had forced the removal of Colin's kangaroos, refused a request to remove a kangaroo involved in an incident, where a 67 year old man had been injured. A stand-off has developed between Bundaberg Regional Council and the Department of Environment and Heritage Protection (EHP).

"An EHP spokesman said under the Nature Conservation Act, the EHP issued damage mitigation permits to landholders or local authorities to manage or remove problem native wildlife.

"EHP is not responsible for managing or removing the wildlife itself," he said.

But Bargara Divisional representative Greg Barnes said Wednesday's incident at Apple Tree Creek, which saw EHP officers remove five pet kangaroos from private property, highlighted that native animal issues were the responsibility of the EHP." Source: "Council and state fight over who will kill the 'roo"

In 2001 Mr Candy had two other kangaroos removed from his premises, Mitchell and Marcy. Both kangaroos died soon after they were removed. See article here.

With his first rescued kangaroos, Colin initially obtained permits as a rescuer, but let them lapse after a few years. No-one seemed to object.

Then suddenly in 2001 he became the object of authorities determined to remove those kangaroos from his premises. He lost his home fighting for them in court. How could any authority allow this to happen to someone who was trying to help our wildlife? There do not seem to be any accusations of cruelty or complaints from neighbours that would have precipitated these actions.

Although Colin has since applied for permits, he says they have been refused, on the grounds that they are only given to rescuers - who are expected to release them into the bush. Mr Candy said that he was trained as a paramedic and that

"Kangaroos are treated like pariahs in their own country, so I don't understand why I can't keep them. They are harmless beautiful creatures."

We live in endlessly expanding cities where our governments are forcing all of us into smaller and smaller spaces and forcing our wildlife into oblivion as they pave over natural habitat. As mentioned above, kangaroos in Queensland, the state where Colin lives, have an average life expectancy of only two years because they are shot for kangaroo meat. As a result of all the big males being taken, the kangaroos there are observably much smaller than in Victoria, for instance, where there is no roo-meat industry (although not for lack of lobbying). Not just the Queensland government, but every state government in Australia promotes fictions of how kangaroo populations are ballooning when it is actually our own that are forcing them from the bush onto streets. The ACT government regularly engages in wholesale kangaroo massacres on elaborate pretexts.

And now four female and one male red kangaroos that a kindly Australian called Colin Candy went out of his way to rescue when they were little have been rudely taken from him because he doesn't have a permit. This in a state that authorises industrial scale hunting of kangaroos and the abandon or killing of their young at foot or in pouch. As if anyone involved in this raid really cares about Colin's kangaroos - or dared to speak up if they did. But Colin cares and the kangaroos know nothing else. And he dares to speak up. So we must also. Because the whole thing sounds completely stupid, as well as cruel.

Please speak up for Colin and his kangaroos and for all kangaroos by emailing the following parties. Say something about the population growth that is causing the disturbance of our kangaroos and about the sheer insanity of prosecuting a man who has tried to help abandoned joeys who will now be at risk of being shot in the wild, like their mothers, in the unlikely case that they survive alone in the bush without any relationship with the local roos, who tend to chase unfamiliar roos off their territory.

Director General EHP Jon Black
Jon.Black[AT]ehp.qld.gov.au

Investigation Officer EHP Matt Barr
matt.barr[AT]ehp.qld.gov.au

Wildlife Manager EHP Michael Devery
Michael.Devery[AT]ehp.qld.gov.au

Minister EHP Andrew Powell (this bloke has the power to order the return of the roos)
Environment[AT]ministerial.qld.gov.au

Minister EHP Andrew Powell (he also orders the destruction of wild roos)
glass.house[AT]parliament.qld.gov.au

Premier Hon Campbell Newman
thepremier[AT]premiers.qld.gov.au

Today at the Australian Wildlife Protection Council AGM I interviewed Craig Thomson, Animalia wildlife carer, about the events that may have led to Sean the Koala travelling down a busy highway in Langwarrin. Turns out he was probably following a traditional migratory route of male koalas in search of romance, which takes them from islands of habitat like the Cranbourne Botanical Gardens, down four-lane highways towards The Pines Flora and Fauna Reserve in Frankston, or further south, across the massive Peninsula Link tollway that cuts the Peninsula in half. Why are koalas being forced onto highways? It is another terrible cost of the unwanted human population expansion that is being forced on Victorians by the State Government, in its bid to grow Melbourne faster and faster. Animalia has $10,000 outstanding power bills; you can help by donating to WESTPAC BANK BSB 033138 Account 434072

The President of Animalia, Michelle Thomas, actually rescued Sean the Koala, but has received little credit. Instead, Wildlife Victoria is often erroneously named as the rescuing agency. In the mean time Animalia owes $10,000 in utility bills alone and the wildife carers wonder how they are going to keep going without donations. So please consider donating to WESTPAC BANK BSB 033138 Account 434072.

The photograph of a koala being carried away from a multi-lane highway by a resourceful and kind truck driver comes from South Australia, but the situation of koalas crossing dangerous roads is all too frequent.

Read this most amazing - albeit short - account of the latest success of wildlife carers Professor Steve Garlick and his wife Dr Rosemary Garlick, and their protocol. Perhaps wildlife carers may be inspired to learn from these carers, instead of putting such a badly injured kangaroo in the 'too hard' basket and euthanasing?

Many complex injuries

Trooper has now almost fully recovered from 9 fractures, including 2 compound fractures, and a patella tendon repair. We have now another with 12 fracture cases, including 9 with fractured ribs, fractured sternum, fractured scapula and subluxed cervical vertebrae. These animals have such determination to recover. (Photo of Trooper now fully healed and close to being ready to release back into the wild.)

We are doing dozens of fracture repairs now. Virtually every case of a severely animal that comes to us (now four per week) has resulted from an motor vehicle accident in which the driver did not stop to lend a hand or make a call for assistance. The animal was left to suffer or be killed by further vehicles or foxes. Their chance of being helped in most cases rests in the hands of other more caring drivers in the immediate vicinity.

Thanks to the help of amazing wildlife vet Dr Howard Ralph - http://www.southerncrosswildlifecare.org.au - Trooper will be free again soon.

Our protocol for treating wildlife with significant injuries

First step: In any macropod rescue where there is significant injury you need to give sedation and importantly pain relief. Animal Valium (Pamlin) is not enough for pain relief. We give injectable Tramil. If the injury is minor you could get away with children's Painstop, but its not enough for a fracture. This treatment is important if there is no veterinarian immediately available. If the injury is a fracture, then splint support to stabilise the fracture may be required as the best form of pain relief. We give injectable Vitamin E and Selenium to reduce the risk of myopathy.

Second step: Have an assessment of the injury and decide whether it can be treated. Things to consider here are the type of injury (where the fracture is and what kind of fracture it is – an x-ray may be needed at some point), size of the animal and whether you have the facilities and knowledge available for the long term rehabilitation phase. Larger animals may be more difficult to manage in the rehabilitation phase but of course it can be done and we do it all the time.

Third step: Either take the animal to a veterinarian for treatment or undertake at least some of the treatment yourself. A course of antibiotics will generally be needed. We use Betamox LA and Baytril together to cover as wide a spectrum of infection as possible, initially.

Fourth step: If you are carrying out some of the treatment yourself if you know what you are doing with a limb fracture. Under strong sedation (Pamlin may not be enough here and you may need Xylazine) and pain relief you may need to put traction on the limb to bring the bones into alignment if they are displaced or compound, clean the wound site with saline and Betadine or similar, splint and bandage with the leg in alignment with the toe and sitting in either the right angle position or slightly dorsiflexed.

The rest will be up to the veterinarian once the x-ray has been seen.

I haven’t given any medication dosages in the above but could do so if needed.

Hope this is helpful. We do many of these for animals we rescue ourselves or that others bring to us. However generally if the animal is large and the fracture is substantial and complex, we probably would not try to rehabilitate. Large animals are difficult to manage in rehabilitation if the fracture is significant.

As I travel through the Australian bush I find myself apologising for being human to all the wildlife I come upon. And if you could hear a distressed animal’s quiet sobbing…what would you do?
Judge your life not by how good you are, but rather by what good you do.

Professor Steve Garlick PhD, FAUCEA
University of Newcastle NSW, University of Technology Sydney NSW
2009 Shining World Compassion Award
President, Animal Justice Party of Australia

"The car was so fantastic as a rescue vehicle and I am feeling saddened that because of someone hating me so much for helping wildlife that they damaged my car, forcing me to park it elsewhere, this has happened. I recently broke my ankle whilst out checking on animals and relied on my car so much. I cannot continue in the short time doing what I love most, helping the Kangaroos." If you would like to help Leisa to buy another car, or maybe in some other way, we include an address for contact and contributions at the end of this article.

Today Leisa Moore, who looks after the kangaroos in the Adelaide hills, has no wheels. She is still alive, but worries about the kangaroos out there.

On Saturday morning, 2nd June, 2012, Leisa Moore's car was crushed by a tree.

Leisa has been looking after kangaroos for 25 years here. She says that at first it was a fantastic area, but over time mindless hostility towards kangaroos has accompanied population pressure and clearing for development. Kangaroos and kangaroo rescuers are unpopular with people who want to clear land for housing. This has made the kangaroos and her life hell. Although some people appreciate what she does, there is a cowardly group of people who want her to move on and stop helping kangaroos. Leisa is so dedicated - to truth and kangaroos - however, that she refuses to move and continues to go out rescuing in the constantly deteriorating conditions.

Wildlife carers' lives are difficult

This is the lot of so many of Australia's wildlife carers and the public should know. When something goes wrong on top of the general difficulties, it can be very hard to go on. All our wildlife carers need more support and appreciation. Most also need money, but they don't know how to ask for it, even if they had the time.

"I don't know what I am going to do now. I saved so hard to get it and really looked after my car. It was old and I won't be able to get anything as good with what the insurance will pay me as 'market value'. I waited a long time to get a good car as it needs to be reliable in the area I live. I drive in remote areas sometimes to rescue animals. I am already worried about what I cannot do tonight."

Leisa's practice has been to park her car in a particular area near council land and to go on foot to check fences and other hazards where wildlife, especially kangaroos, come to grief. She spends about four hours driving and walking areas each day.

My day starts as soon as it is light to check the roads for injured Kangas and return at dusk after peak hour till dark to make sure there are no Kangas suffering from vehicle collisions. I walk several kilometres checking the vast amount of fencing which is deadly to Kangas of all ages.

During those twenty-five years, but most especially over the past five years, for her troubles, she has been abused, stalked, and had damage done to her car.

In the past few weeks her car tyres have been let down twice whilst she was in the bush checking wildlife.

"Someone stabbed one of the back tyres and did a slow puncture of the other. Before this I found a broken bottle placed under a tyre. Last week I had to buy two new tyres."

Because of the attacks on her car, she accepted when recently a neighbour offered to let her park her car outside his house on the footpath in the same area to make it less obviously a target for the person who had been damaging it. She took up the neighbour's offer on three occasions, most recently Saturday morning.

The Friday evening before Leisa had searched until dark for the mother of a joey she found by itself in the bush. She was unable to find the mother kangaroo and went back home to bed, but she was too worried about the fate of mother and joey to sleep. As soon as it was light she set off to look again for the mother, who she feared was injured and stuck somewhere, unable to attend to her joey. She left her car outside the neighbour's house again, expecting it would be safe.

She says that she got out of the car carrying her 'usual gear' of mobile phone, binoculars, and emergency first aid kit, ready to help any injured animal.

" I had only taken about five steps towards the area I wanted to check, when I heard an amazing noise, one that I know well, the sound of a tree about to crash. I turned and just stared at my car as, with a crash, a huge tree limb thundered down and crushed it. It took all of five seconds. If I had still been getting out of the car, I would almost certainly have been very badly injured or killed."

The SES chain-sawed the limb and removed if from her car, but the tow-truck driver described it as a write-off.

Leisa says,

"The car was so fantastic as a rescue vehicle and I am feeling saddened that because of someone hating me so much for helping wildlife that they damaged my car, forcing me to park it elsewhere, this has happened. I would not have parked in this area under the tree were it not for the recent attacks on my car. I have been parking in the other spot for 25 years, where at least no tree fell on my car.

Now, I am sorry to say, there will probably be many people happy that I cannot continue in the short time doing what I love most, helping the Kangaroos. I recently broke my ankle whilst out checking on animals and relied on my car so much. My ankle will take many months to heal apparently as I have done considerable ligament damage but ... I will keep checking and that is that. I just love Kangaroos so much. I will keep going. I am still a bit shaken over the incident."

Leisa is on a low income and uses her own money to help kangaroos in an area where they are persecuted. She could use financial help to buy a decent car and to help with the expense of caring for the kangaroos.

Candobetter.net would like to make it possible to help her through writing this article and telling you about her good work and hard times. If you would like to help, you could send money or contact her at:

If you want to help Leisa, send money or write:

Bank Details:

Leisa Moore
National Australia Bank.
BSB. 085-221
Acct No 62-224-2063.

Or write to:

PO Box 203, Mylor. SA. 5153.

Having spent her working life as a police officer seeing the most horrific acts of human depravity and violence and where she was hurt on duty, Terri says she could handle that ... what she can't handle is the barbaric cruelty inflicted on those that cannot fight back and has seen many animals who were beyond her care because of a sickness in society today.

For close to 40 years, Terri Eather has been caring for injured and orphaned wildlife. This Angel of Australia is one of the most respected wildlife carers in this vast country. Spending a day with Terri at her Cornubia home gives you a fair idea of why this disability pensioner is the backbone of saving a plethora of native animal species.

Little "Butterfly" is her latest joey to be in her care...yet another orphan who has lost their precious mother to an uncaring driver who didnt stop to attend to this vulnerable baby. With feeds every few hours, sleep is a luxury, but Terri would never stop being a foster mother to our furry friends as well as any sick, injured or orphaned wildlife that crosses her path.

Having spent her working life as a police officer seeing the most horrific acts of human depravity and violence and where she was hurt on duty, Terri says she could handle that ... what she can't handle is the barbaric cruelty inflicted on those that cannot fight back and has seen many animals who were beyond her care because of a sickness in society today.

She counts Bob Irwin as a dear friend having known him many years because of her voluntary work back in the day that saw the beginning of Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital and was there sitting quietly in the stands when the big boy in khaki was farewelled by the world...another dear friend and one she misses deeply.

With calls coming in from every corner of Australia, this Angel takes it all in her stride giving medical advice akin to something heard in an E.R. room. The main difference is there is no wage for Terri, no grants, no government funding and paying for everything out of a disability pension leaves this proud lady scraping for coins most weeks. Terri jokes, she tries to pay for things with Koala Food Gum Leaves!

Her acreage in Cornubia is her sanctuary and when contacted about the hoons speeding up and down outside her home, a local Logan City Councillor wrote to residents requesting they please drive slowly and quietly in the immediate areas as stress from noise can kill wildlife. There also were two 1800 high steel signs in the ground with steel posts and unbelievably, one was stolen and police believe it would have taken the perpetrators over an hour to break the steel post so the sign could be removed. Patience is something Terri has bucketloads of as unfortunately drivers still speed and the hoons are still driving with excess noise. Some lovely neighbours do occasionaly bring her injured wildlife also.

Without Terri, there would be far few koalas, roos, birds, lizards, snakes and a range of other native animals able to live another day in their natural habitat...her love is felt in the Aussie bush through and through.

You can visit Terri's blog here: http://www.fourthcrossingwildlife.com/TerriEather.htm The section on wildlife information is unusual and useful.

For the Animals

Jaylene Musgrave
Vegan Warriors

Denise McLean, an Australian animal carer writes about local council indifference to the effects of car collisions and dog attacks on kangaroos and her concerns about the government's positions on live export. (1 July 2011)

Huge dog problems

Huge dog problems in my neighbourhood, local council are useless. (I don't think they will be happy until every last kangaroo in our area is either killed by a car or mauled to death by a dog). Anyway, had to take measures into my own hands, kept a watch each night and over the course of 1 week, I caught 3 dogs roaming onto my property. One of my released grey kangaroos hadn't been home for 3 days and I was so worried about him but I think he must have gone further away to get away from the dogs. Good news, he has come home and hasn't left for the past 4 days.

Brain injured joey

My little whiptail joey (1.2 kgs) - I have raised him from eyes closed pinkie of 270 grams - is having problems. He had a brain injury and wasn't sending the right signals to his legs so he couldn't stand up. After many weeks of physio and exercise, I am happy to say he is hopping. 2 days ago however, he had a big tumble and has broken a bone near his foot. Really hard trying to keep him off his feet so he can recover. The vet doesn't want to splint it as a bandage on his leg may hinder his brain signals to his foot if it is compromised, so this makes his recovery just a little more difficult.

I had a bad fall a few weeks ago and have torn tendons in my shoulder. Have been in absolute agony but with everything that has been happening, I haven't been able to rest my shoulder so it is not getting any better. My partner has been absolutely great but as you all probably know, men aren't the best nurturers.

Enough of my problems, in the scheme of the world, they are pretty insignificant.

Live exports

Live Exports - Am very concerned regarding the propaganda the cattle people are sending out. It is changing peoples opinions. My mother in law has changed her mind regarding the live trade. After hearing stories that the cattle are starving at the ports, she told me yesterday that it would be better for them to be sent to Indonesia (I finished her sentence with "to be tortured"). I am afraid this is the general feeling out there amongst the general public.

Does anyone have further information regarding a rumour that the Indonesians not requiring our cattle after 2014 as they should be producing enough of their own cattle? If this is indeed true, then the Australian cattle exporters must have a contingency plan, otherwise they would have to stop breeding now for the live export in 2014. So why can't they fast-track this alternative plan? Or is this just more propaganda floating around.

Nick Xenophon

We all must stay diligent regarding this issue. I have heard Nick Xenophon speaking on this issue numerous times and he seems like he genuinely feels disgust at the Australians who have let this atrocity take place for 18 years. Lets hope he can be a loud voice for this cause.

As a wildlife carer, have you had the heartbreaking experience of losing a joey only to realise later that the wrong medicine or milk formula was given? Or perhaps you lose joeys frequently and haven't figured out why? No matter what your situation, a precious life has been entrusted to you and you must give it your best. Without top guidance and the best manual money can buy, you could be wasting many precious hours and bringing yourself untold grief. This manual could give life-saving information. Read on ....

For any of you who are macropod carers or know others who are, who don't yet have a copy of Lynda Staker's definitive manual The Complete Guide to the Care of Macropods, I highly recommend you get your copy. Lynda is viewed as one of the world's foremost specialists of macropod husbandry.

WHY IS ACCURATE ADVICE SO CRITICAL IN THE CASE OF MACROPODS?

Lynda receives numerous calls from macropod carers all over the world, and the one problem she continually comes across is carers being advised incorrect information, resulting in compromised and ailing (or dying) animals.

Most often those who are advising carers do not have an understanding of the specific requirements these unique animals require, and the majority of diseases contracted by macropods in care which could have been prevented with the correct information.

Additionally, many carers are locked into methods of management and thought processes from the past, and are afraid to continue to learn, question and change their husbandry practices.

As an example, this photo on the right depicts a joey suffering from nutrient deficiency, caused by using the incorrect formula to rear macropod joeys.

The most obvious thing, even to a novice, is how the fur is clammy the way it sticks to the skin. Nor does this joey appear to have well developed muscles.

However, unless a carer is familiar with the different macropod species and what to look for to identify a species, one would not know what species this is!

The photo above shows what this joey should look like with the correct nutrition. Notice how soft and healthy looking its fur is, how upright its ears are, how fleshy it looks compared to the joey in the above photo. This second joey exudes health and vitality, compared to the above one which doesn't. Nutrition is everything to a young kangaroo.

Lynda's philosophy is that if you don't continue to learn, then it is time to give it away.

WHAT IS DIFFERENT ABOUT THIS MANUAL COMPARED TO GENERIC MANUALS?
Lynda's manual differs from others because it is the most comprehensive macropod husbandry manual available, and also because the information is precise and to the point. Lynda explains in layman's terms the whys and wherefores of problems commonly experienced with macropod care, which in most cases are based on common sense and an understanding of the physiology of macropods.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Lynda is a lecturer and author specialising in the field of macropod husbandry, rehabilitation, and the clinical signs and treatment of disease. While she has reared many Australian fauna species, her forte is predominantly macropods, as they were the most commonly presented to her private wildlife hospital, which she maintained between the years of 1989 to 2003.

Lynda began caring for injured/orphaned/sick native fauna in 1986. The original work of
Professor Rick Speare on macropod disease induced her to begin compiling her own findings, and he became her mentor during that period.

Her interest is particularly in the nutritional requirements of macropods, as the ratio of fats, proteins, minerals and vitamins change throughout their development.

In 2000, she relocated and began donating her time to educating carer groups with four-day lectures, completing a lecture tour of six Australian States in 2001-2002.

In 2002 she spoke at the Macropod Conference in Ohio, U.S.A. and worked in an Australian themed wildlife park in Kentucky in 2003-4 where her responsibilities included designing and erecting new exhibits, creating a veterinary facility for animals in need of treatment, educating animal keepers, designing appropriate diets for the 300 odd animals species, researching information for and creating the Animal Keepers' training manual.

To date she has conducted 78 lectures to wildlife carer groups, zoos, veterinarians and wildlife park keepers throughout all the Australian states. Her international credibility is indisputable!

WHO IS USING THIS MANUAL?

Her previous manual titled Don't Step Backwards is used in nine countries throughout the world. However her latest manual The Complete Guide to The Care of Macropods is now available and is currently used in twenty four countries, including 34 of the States of America. Facilities using this manual include zoos, macropod keepers, universities and veterinary clinics. It has received reviews by both the German and American Association of Zookeepers, the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria and Wildlife Australia. This work is referred to as the macropod carer's 'bible' throughout the world, as it is the only one of its type.

ABOUT THE MANUAL

This invaluable reference book is 456p, (A4 size) with over 700 colour photos and graphs throughout 30 chapters. Subjects covered range from rescue and handling, emergency first aid, raising methods, identification of species, dealing with problems, requirements, enclosures, diets, release and relocation methods, growth charts, drugs and natural therapies, working with vets, diagnosis and diseases, wounds and injuries, scientific names and status of Australian mammals.

This new publication includes information not before published. An extensive section assists veterinarians to deal with many conditions contracted by macropods, and also covers captive care. There is a comprehensive index. The foreword is written by Professor Rick Speare from James Cook University.

Without a doubt, the best guide to macropod care on the market.

See http://www.lyndastaker.com

CONTACT THE AUTHOR

Lynda has been available for advice to macropod keepers on the on-line yahoo wallaby group for the past 10 years and is available for assistance via e-mail [email protected] or telephone on (61)07-49551904.

Professor Steve Garlick and his wife Dr Rosemary Garlick recently had this fascinating tale to share. Can you believe a kangaroo could be hit by a car and break off the bumper, be bashed by a drunk and be rehabilitated and released in great shape just two weeks later? An inspiration for wildlife carers everywhere! It's time people made more effort to help injured wildlife instead of killing them just because they are adults or hit by a car. A beautiful photo shows other kangaroos successfully relocated and thriving, welcoming Rosemary during a night-time visit

Two weeks ago we rescued a 25kg male kangaroo that had been hit by a car. According to the person who reported the incident, it appears the car driver ran into the kangaroo. The hit must have been with some force as his bumper bar fell on to the roadway as a result.

A drunk in another vehicle stopped and proceeded to attack the kangaroo with the bumper bar whereupon the kangaroo lashed out at the drunk with both legs and both the car driver and the drunk gave up and sped away.

You have to wonder what was in the mind of the drunk. Did he think he was doing the kangaroo a favour by killing it? Was he being plain sadistic? Or did he just not realise that wildlife carers can and do (some of them anyway) help such cases and put in a call to them?

Luckily, we were called out and, using our usual technique with net, blanket and hand-held sedation, we brought him home for evaluation and treatment.

We named him 'Bumper,' for obvious reasons.

Amazingly enough, his injuries were not that significant. Quite a few places where he had abrasions and cuts and some soreness to the pelvic/ sacrum area, but no fracture. His treatment included antibiotics (Baytril and Betamox) for infection, pain relief (Tramil), Modecate for stress, and plenty of rest in our straw bed area where we could keep a close eye on his progress. His recovery was quick and he wanted to go.

After only two weeks of respite, his injuries were fixed. So today (28th May, 2011) we translocated and released him on a safe site. We did not release him where we found him but probably within 10km of this location. We rescued him adjacent to a normally very busy road and farmland where it is rare to find kangaroos (most likely shot out by the local redneck farmers). Thankfully the rescue was very late on a Sunday night when the traffic was light. Ordinarily there would be quite a deal of traffic and it is a 100km speed zone. We released him, very gently, on 2,500 acres of wildlife friendly bushland. The picture on the right shows him waking up from the sedation prior to him hopping away (still a little wobbly from the sedation) into the distance.

Talk about lucky!

On our way back and almost dark, Rosemary (The 'Kangaroo Whisperer') did her thing of calling out to the kangaroos at the release site and within ten mins sixteen kangaroos had arrived from all over the place, as you can see from the picture on the right. Sometimes, there are literally mobs of them swarming around her!

Most of these particular kangaroos have now been released into the wild for 18 months but still remember us.

Steve

"As I travel through the Australian bush I find myself apologising for being human to all the wildlife I come upon. And if you could hear an animal’s quiet sobbing…what would you do?"

Raising orphaned joeys is a job that requires dedication, time, money, compassion and commitment. It means night and day feeds, special formulas, quietness to avoid stress, warmth and special bonding. All this can simply be wiped out by the released animals being "managed" by the NSW government!

NSW land-owner and wildlife carer of orphaned kangaroo joeys James Fitzgerald, had the horror and injustice of two of his hand raised joeys, rescued in 2008 and released in 2009, go missing since the kangaroo "harvester" came to his adjacent property.

According to Nicole Payne, Manager of the Kangaroo Management Plan, Environment Protection and Regulation Office of Environment and Heritage in NSW, for occupiers of a commercial kangaroos "harvesters" licences, there is no requirement that they consult the occupiers of land neighbouring where they are to do their legal slaughter. The size, location of the neighbouring properties is noted when the licence is given , but they are not consulted. That means that it is simply unfortunate that wildlife carers lose their released kangaroos to the "harvest" because that is how it is according to the National Parks and Wildlife Act, and the NSW Commercial Harvest Kangaroo Management Plan. Bad luck!

For landowners who want to live in harmony with Nature, the environment and care for wildlife, there is little compassion, hope or consideration. Bureaucrats in Canberra and in State "environment" departments can simply - with a signature and sanction - wipe out all care and protection devoted individuals give to wildlife suffering from numerous lethal threats.

My letter to Nicole Payne, wildlife "manager", is below.

Dear Ms Nicole Payne
Manager, Kangaroo Management Plan
Environment Protection and Regulation
Office of Environment and Heritage
NSW

I am writing to add my concern with that of James Fitzgerald (see attached) who has the horror and injustice of 2 of his hand raised joeys that were rescued in 2008 and released in 2009 but have been missing since the kangaroo "harvester" came. How are his rights to appreciate wildlife, a rural lifestyle, and his life commitment to caring for wildlife being appreciated and protected if kangaroos are "harvested" ( they are not vegetables or fruit) in the adjacent property? Why are the economic rights of these red-neck killers have a higher priority than landowners who want to live in harmony with their environment, and actually nurture and love their animals? This is shameful, that we in Australia treat our native animals, animals that are NOT pests and exist only in Australia, with such contempt?

He has lived on my 780acre property in peace for 7 years but all has changed now! These killers have more rights than valid environmentalists and wildlife protectors?

Kangaroos are part of Australia's natural heritage. They evolved here and are part of our environmental and native grassland management, naturally. They are what needs protecting! According to your official title, this is your role. However, you approval of this bloodshed is actually contradictory - and quite ironical! You need to stop the hypocrisy and start protecting our wildlife, and kangaroo numbers are plummeting, and start protecting our environment from such colonial dark-ages of ignorance.

The Commercial Kangaroo Management Plan is a smoke-screen for making profits from animals that produce "free" meat! It's not "management' but pure and bloody slaughter.

Your title needs to change to that of advocate of wildlife-family killers and baby-joey bludgeoners!

Ms Nicole Payne's email address is:

[email protected]

Wildlife carers always advocate 'euthanasia' for adult kangaroos on the grounds that they cannot be rehabilitated. Since kangaroos suffer and die from stress myopathy, containing them in an area and exposing them to humans (arch enemy of kangaroos) is cruel and prolongs their suffering - it is argued.

Meet two wildlife carers who disagree and whose experience is contrary to the generally accepted opinion.

Professor Steve Garlick, and his wife Dr Rosemary Garlick, PhD, FAUCEA & Rosemary Austen PhD, MBBS, FRACGP, are veteran wildlife carers who specialise in kangaroo rescue, rehabilitation and relocation. With the assistance of Wildlife specialist vet Dr Howard Ralph, they take on any native animal in need of help with a very good success rate.

In June 2010, Steve presented a paper to the National Wildlife Rehabilitation conference in Adelaide in which he documented a 97% relocation success rate, with relocated kangaroos (including adults) being monitored over a 24 month period.

Rosemary and Steve produced this paper in response to the well known 2008 herding and brutal slaughter of at least 514 kangaroos in Belconnen, Canberra. The A.C.T. government argued that these kangaroos could not be relocated because up to 40% may die in the process. Apparently they preferred a 100% fatality rate to a RSPCA estimated 40% fatality rate.

The Garlicks' paper demonstrated that, with thorough planning and control, orphaned and wild large Eastern Grey Kangaroos can be successfully translocated with a high success rate and there is indeed no valid excuse to 'cull' healthy kangaroos who are deemed to be in need of moving.

This is what he had to say about a recent case of an 20 year old kangaroo named Thelma:-

Thelma soon after she arrived at Steve's

"We are always rehabilitating severely injured adults. That’s what we mostly do because they are the ones that mostly are injured.

"On a 37 degree day in late December we rescued old Thelma. We could smell her 40m metres away she was so debilitated and infected. Just skin and bones. Her pouch was torn to pieces and completely infested with maggots as was her mouth. She couldn’t move and probably would have died within hours of us arriving.

Thelma sedated on the treatment table

Close up of her pouch injury

"She was very old with her teeth well-worn down. Probably everyone else would have killed her, but we have rehabilitated her completely and now she is living on a one acre house yard and enjoying the rest of her life.

Thelma today, completely healed

"Thelma today has fully recovered, is putting on lots of weight and is enjoying her new home where she has her own shelter and plenty of grass and bush. She is a dear old girl and the owners of the property where she now lives are very happy to have her.

"She may live another five years, as kangaroos can live up to 25 years in the wild. Unfortunately in the wild when the teeth wear out there is little they can do and they generally die from under nourishment. Thelma is still eating grass but is also given some high protein supplement.

"We have many stories about animals just like Thelma. Just as with humans, it’s the old animals that are forgotten about. However, the old ones have the best stories to tell!"

*****

Thank you Steve and Rosemary for leading the way forward to a more hopeful future for injured kangaroos and for inspiring wildlife carers everywhere.

A day in the life of a wildlife carer ... how many wildlife carers and vets would euthanase this joey? Professor Steve Garlick and Dr Rosemary Garlick (with the help of wildlife expert Howard Ralph D.M.V.) have managed to save hundreds of kangaroos that would have otherwise not had a chance.

On 14th September, a joey was brought to Professor Steve and Dr Rosemary Garlick. He had a smashed and compound fractured toe, loss of skin to leg and torn finger nail. Nobody knew how it happened.

His weight - a mere 2 kgs.

Special Kangaroo's injuries

See his progress in 24 hours of treatment....

Progress in 24 hours

In early November the pin came out of his toe and on 21/11/10 they took his bandages off. Here is a photo taken late November .... such a handsome boy and thanks to these amazing wildlife carers and Howard Ralph, wildlife vet, he has another chance at life.

Progress 2 months later

UPDATE September 21, 2010: Millionaire bequest due in 12 months - but money urgently needed now.


On 7 August 2009 I wrote an article about the Wombat Awareness Organisation, which also referred to some interesting 19th century attitudes to wombats in Britain. On September 21 we learned that, although Brigitte Stevens still needs funding urgentlyfor another 12 months or so, after that the organisation expects the release of the first million dollar installment of an $8m bequest from a US horse-racing millionaire! So rarely do wildlife carers get the recognition they deserve for giving recognition and rights back to our fellow creatures. How wonderful to know that there are some rich people in the world who are not, apparently, entirely given over to land speculation and undermining democracy.

To see the whole article:

For the whole article, with the update at the end, see, "Hairy-nosed wombat, South Australia - rescue effort well worth supporting"

Story 1 - Anne-Marie

Anne-Marie was leaving for a 5 hour drive. She had travelled about 40k when she saw a dead wallaby by the road. On stopping and checking the animal she found the mother was dead, still warm, and in her pouch a frightened, squirming furless joey (called a 'pinkie'). Luckily the meat ants had not yet found it but were already swarming over the mother's head.

She extracted the joey from the pouch and put it in a little pouch from her rescue kit in the car. Then she tucked the joey inside her shirt to keep it warm, turned around and went back home!

After checking for injuries and working out its age by doing foot, tail and weight measurements, she determined it was four months old - critical information in order to determine the correct amount and type of joey formula. Luckily for this little pinkie another pinkie joey had come into care the day before so the humidicrib was already set at the correct temperature. She put the pinkie in a hanging pouch alongside the other pinkie joey and left them in the care of a very capable and experienced carer who had come in to hold the fort for the weekend. The first pinkie Anne-Marie had named 'April' as it came in at the end of April and she decided to call the second pinkie 'May', since it came on the first day of May.

Anne-Marie resumed her trip, behind in time now. About an hour from home she saw a man hit a peewee and continue driving without stopping. Unfortunately it is not law to stop for a bird as it is to stop for other wildlife that you hit. She pulled over once again and while she was getting ready to retrieve the bird who was now lying on the middle of the road, she noticed 4 peewees fly down to try and help it. Then another car went right over the injured bird. She couldn't believe it. The bird was still alive with its feet up in the air and looking extremely stressed.

She carried it to her car, checked it over, emptied everything out of her rescue basket, lined in with a towel and placed the peewee in there. She didn't have much hope for its survival. She covered the basket with another towel, following the rule for injured animals, warm, dark, quiet. She mentally named the bird June.

About an hour later Anne-Marie pulled off the road and gave the bird some glucose and water dripped onto its beak until it swallowed. It perked up noticeably after that.

Another half hour or so into the journey she stopped to check a dead swamp wallaby, she named July. It was a male and very dead so she pulled it off the road to avoid any eagles or crows getting hit as they cleaned it up. August was a dead bandicoot and September an echidna. She was beginning to wonder how far up the calender she would get before she arrived.

Finally after many stops she arrived at her destination which was a workshop for wildlife carers. She was able to give the peewee to people who were bird specialists. They checked it over thoroughly and found it had amazingly not suffered any fractures. One of the bird carers took it home with her to put it her large aviary for observation. Two days later Anne-Marie checked on its status and the bird received a clean bill of health, and was told it was ready for release so she returned home taking the bird with her. She had carefully noted the place where she had found it and wanted to put it back in the exact same place.

As they approached closer to its natural range the bird really started getting agitated and flapping its wings in the basket. Once back in the right spot Anne-Marie walked with the basket away from the road and opened the lid. The Peewee stood up, look around and without hesitation flew high in the air. It circled twice, then flew across the road to a high tree. Almost instantly its 4 peewee family members flew down from the telephone wire to greet it.

There was much chatter and I imagine the peewee was telling the family about its weekend in Gladstone, free board and lodge in luxury accommodation.

April and May went home with Maureen the carer and are doing well. After just completing 4 months of night feeding Anne-Marie could not contemplate starting all over again and besides Maureen was already in love with April and May who will come back to Anne-Marie's place for release later on. It's always good for kangaroos to have mates to grow up with so they bond with each other and not with the human carer.

What a happy ending! Another day in the life of a wildlife carer.

Well done, Anne-Marie!

Story 2 - Professors Steve and Rosemary Garlick

Ruby is a 20kg wild eastern grey kangaroo that was rescued in the last week of April from a barbed wire fence with myopathy and awful wounds to both legs, feet and toes.

Here are some photos ....

Ruby with injuries

With a lot of wound cleaning and dressing and treatment for myopathy, Ruby is now doing very well and quite docile with Rosemary, the Kangaroo Whisperer

Well done Steve and Rosemary! Stay tuned for updates. So far Ruby is doing well.

On February 12, Sheila Newman wrote a blog about Wildhaven which burnt to the ground in the horrific Black Saturday Victorian bushfires last year (see http://candobetter.org/node/1064 ).

Stella and Boof,
before the fires of Black Saturday

Both lost tragically in the fires last year.
Gone forever now.

Those of us who were privileged to have come to know her magical animals through her photos were devastated. It's heartbreaking to think of kangaroos like the following are now gone forever ... and even more heartbreaking to consider the terror they must have experienced while running for their lives and being burned to death.

And worst of all is the pain of Stella and Alan Reid from Wildhaven who must bear the grief for the rest of their lives. It is a tribute to their shining spirits that they chose to pick up and start over, from the ground up. From all around the world, people started sending them donations of money, food and clothing so that they could begin again. For most of the last year they have lived in one big tin shed with a few of the animals who miraculously did survive the fires.

Cooper and Merlot,
an inseparable couple

Kangaroos such as precious Merlot and Cooper who hold each other affectionately most of the time.

Hope, the baby wombat, 12K
Making sure she sort of doesn't share the food

Then there is Hope, the baby wombat, Hope, is around 12k, and sort of shares her food with the Wallabies, Kangaroos, maybe not. You can see from the photo on the right below that she has her feet in one bowl while eating from the next. This is one way of not sharing.

Hope steals the kangaroos' pouches
who have left giving him space!

Hope, the wombat, yep, eating again
Cooper, Merlot, Nigel and Patch along the back

This is outside in the enclosures we have built, it is fenced by four and a half acres of 8 foot fencing. They can run free or stay in the small enclosure in their pouches.

Patch in a perfect pose
One day he will be a big boy

Patch is so beautiful and is going to be a big Kangaroo tall and elegant. He is still only a baby and like to stay in his pouch but does spend time on the grass.

Nigel, when not in our bed,
smiles when he is in Patches' bed

They have 9 little ones on bottles, 3 - 4 times a day. The last bottle is 10pm and first at 6 am.

Says Stella: "It is nearly one year on since Black Saturday, this Sunday is a year. We are at peace here in our world again. For the rest of our lives we will care for the little ones, each year at this time the memories of one year ago will be so strong it breaks our hears as if it was yesterday. This we cannot change, It will be with us forever. To cry and remember is what humans do, it is ok to do this.

Nigel in our bed
When not in Patches' bed

Alice having a bottle, talking and drinking simultaneously
She loves hugs and kisses and gives them back

The Bunker
A safety net for the future

Hope chases Alice
They are good friends

The land is still so barren
But we have hope for the future when things will be lush and green again

Spoiled rotten on the couch.
One happy family

This is our new kangaroo enclosure
Merlot and Cooper fussing as usual

"We look in to the eyes and faces of the little ones in our care and we smile again. Wildhaven will be free and safe again for the little ones. This time many more people are watching, caring and loving we are not doing it alone, this is a good thing. Welcome to Wildhaven where our family and friends are the little creatures of the earth. I hope the years to come you too will enjoy our world as much as we feel privileged to be part of. It is an honor to be part of their world."

We built a fire bunker for our wildlife, and they have taken to the concert tank very easily, it will always be open to them. They come and go in the bunker as they wish. It is inside the enclosure for them. In making our world safe the little ones in our care will always come first. They will not be afraid to go in, when the next fires come.

Hope, the baby wombat, chasing Alice, they are good friends. Hope is a very fast runner, Alice has better eye sight.

Love from
Alan Stella and All at Wildhaven.

And it is an honour to know you too, Stella. Thank you for giving us a glimpse into the beauty and sweetness of Australia's native animals.

They still need help. Any contributions gratefully received at:-

Direct Bank Deposit to:
Stella & Alan Reid
BSB: 063 222
Account: 10262617

Or mail a cheque to:
Stella and Alan Reid, C/- St Andrews Post Office, 10 Caledonia Street, St Andrews Vic 3761, or PO Box 195, St Andrews Vic 3761

Overseas contributions can be paypalled to [email protected] with subject line 'For Wildhaven'.

BLACK SATURDAY POEM
HELL ON EARTH - by Christopher Levinson
(http://cjwriter.com/2009/02/14/hell-on-earth/)

Red sunrise burning
Wind howling amongst the trees:
Nature is unleashed

The beauty of fire:
An unstoppable fury
Dancing in the wind

Eucalypt forest:
Ancient trees of memory
Scorched by angry flames

Smoke clouding the sky:
Embers falling like raindrops
In the darkest light

Twenty years of life
Reduced to rubble and ash:
We have each other

A fallen tree trunk:
Cars abandoned by the road
Toys scattered inside

Amidst the burnt grass
A single flower remains:
A lone miracle

The sadness of night:
Survivors gather to pray
Tears fall down your face

A city of tents:
Shelter and home to many
Memories survive

Red sunset fading
Raindrops falling to the ground:
A young country mourns

Article written by Robyn

Even though it wasn't held in a conveniently located venue/time, the meeting was jam packed. Both pro/con were represented in the audience and they were lively, but mostly well behaved. It should be emphatically noted that every member of the NSW govt refused to attend or be on the speakers panel.

Laurie Levy raised frightening concerns

Laurie Levy (Hon Activist), fresh in from VIC, spoke first. His compelling story wove strong and very frightening parallels through many concerns regarding the Shooters Bill. He was also the first of several speakers to bring up the dark side of the FGA & GC (Field & Game Australia & Game Council).

Most recently and during severe drought, FGA was convicted of stealing water from the Latrobe River and diverting it into their private shooting property to attract water birds and duck season could then commence:
http://www.voiceless.org.au/News/Animal_Law_News/Illegal_water_diversion_to_attract_sitting_ducks.html

97% of hunters choose not to join the Shooters' Party

Next up, Catherine Cusack (Shadow Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability) noted that 97% of all hunters choose not to join the Shooters' Party. She gave a number of examples of the Shooter's Party also threatening past govt (Bob Carr and John Howard to name two). She was a good speaker, but she spoke so quickly that I couldn't note down half of what she said (sorry). I did catch that 3.5 million tax-payer dollars goes to the Game Council (GC).

History shows hunting does not controlled feral animals

Dr. Carol Booth (Invasive Species Council, filling in for Dr. Tony Peacock), began by saying, "Good Morning". She wasn't confused about the time of day, but she said felt she was in a parallel universe when dealing with the Shooter's Party, especially since they bill themselves as conservationist. She said we need to heed the lessons of history because using hunters for "feral" animal control has never worked and is actually a conflict of interest.

Hunters need to maintain the opportunity to hunt so they leave breeding females, and they focus killing only male trophy animals. They also are restricted to hunting during daylight hours, and that 'ferals' are fecund and mobile which makes ground hunting the least effective method for control.

Danger of introducing new species for hunting

But, she felt the most dangerous aspect of the bill was the introduction of new species for hunting. (I'll jump ahead and note that Robert Brown's rebuttal was that the new species would be behind wire).

Shooters' Party Member seems out of touch

Robert Brown (MLC, Shooter's Party) started by saying he had history on his side. He went though specific items in the bill, explaining points he felt were most relevant. But (as illustrated by his above comment regarding new introduced species), he seriously just doesn't appear to "get it' at all.

Lee Rhiannon NSW Greens: Why so much public money to promote private party with less than 3% of vote?

Lee Rhiannon (MLC, NSW Greens) was a dynamo. She began by asking why so much public money is used to promote a private party with less than 3% of the vote. She illustrated a number of times how both Labour and Opposition have been long-time mates with the Shooters and have lobbied and traded back-room deals for many years.

Many letters against the bill - some points for even better letters

Of special note to all letter writers: within days of the June introduction of this bill, over 1000 letters hit the Green's and other government offices, which had an enormous impact according to Hon Rhiannon. She urged us to keep writing and gave some salient points to send to both the Premier and local members:

1) First, the GC should go away. They've blown through millions of public dollars in 18 months and this was public funding designed to last 10 years. They've now asked for additional funds, plus raised their budget by 30%. Also note, they've never been able to control 'ferals' and have never become self-sufficient as Ian McDonald promised they would. This money could be better and more responsibility spent.

2) Keep to "No Shooting in NP". Period. No exceptions.

3) Keep to "No commercialisation in NP"; keep them low impact and not tourist-theme parks.

4) Request the Upper House quit their deal-making and debate on merit only.

I'm sure I've left out heaps, but this is all I have time for right now.

h3>Why so much public money for unpopular game council and nothing for selfless wildlife carers?

Please note that one of the audience speakers at the end asked why so much public money was supporting gun lobbyist and private parties when native animal carers couldn't even get a tax break on self-funded care. She got the largest "whoop-whoop" applause of anyone. I'm certainly including this strong suggestion in my letter on where to better place public funds.
Please write if you can, continue to write if you can, and/or attend a meeting if you can.

Another famous koala - from Norman Lindsay's Magic Pudding

"Sam, we were all so glad to hear of your rescue, which gave us hope that the world would realise the plight of you and your fellow koalas and other wildlife in Australia and that our politicians might then wake up. We enjoyed seeing that you had made a friend at the wildlife shelter and it seemed that your future looked comparatively rosey. We are now so sorry to hear that you are no longer with us."
-- Ed.Candobetter

Sam was actually a female koala and, soon after she was rescued, she became fast friends with a male koala who was recovering in the same shelter.

Sam was a victim of controlled burning, not of 'bushfire'

Sam was a victim of the practice of "controlled burning-off" to prevent bushfires. She was not actually a victim of an out of control bushfire. Burning-off is a practice of which the frequency is criticised soundly and scientifically here. In many cases it benefits loggers and land-clearers. Managed and thinned forests are overwhelmingly more frequently linked to uncontrollable bushfires than old growth forests. There is a case for burning off on ridges which are prone to lightening attacks, but, as writers argue in these pages, we should use an entirely different approach to fighting fires in Australia.

Although Sam became known, admired, and undoubtedly loved, by millions of people, due to the terrible fires last February in which hundreds of people died and over a million native animals died, she actually succumbed to chlamydia.

Chlamydia in koalas

Chlamydia is a disease which was found to be epidemic in a number of koala populations about 20 years ago. Since then, the mixing up of different populations in new places in an effort to save the species from extinction due to traditional habitat destruction, has probably contributed to a rise in the incidence of infections. Stress in its own right is also an obvious likely factor in the prevalence, seriousness and chronicity of this illness.

Chlamydia bacteria occur in many different animals, including humans. In koalas clamydia can infect the urinary tract the genetical tract and the respiratory tract. It may cause infertility and blindness and the animal may die from these. They get pink rimmed eyes and cannot keep themselves clean due to incontinence.Source:

How safe are koalas in Australia?

Koalas only live on the South and South Eastern coast of Australia and most wildlife carers consider them in danger everywhere. Unfortunately the way that animals are classified as threatened and endangered in Australia means that you have to wait until the entire population of koalas Australia-wide is on the brink of extinction. Meanwhile, as we head quickly towards this situation, local and regional populations are being extinguished with barely a protest registered in the mainstream media and with only the merest token gestures from parliamentarians.

Wildlife Carers finance most of their work themselves, with little help and much hindrance from the government. People around the world who may read this: please place pressure on our Australian State and Federal governments to start protecting our wildlife instead of killing them through neglect or demonised as 'pests'.

In some cases koalas are endangered by being marooned by human development, so that they cannot get out and they exhaust the food trees where they are boxed in and die of starvation, fighting and disease. Throwing animals together from different populations, without a normal population structure means that these artificially created new colonies lack brakes on reproduction which occur normally through incest avoidance and the Westermarck effect.

However, the greatest direct killer is loss of habitat due to suburban development. This loss of habitat is driven by the growth lobby which has caused Australia to become severely overpopulated to the extent that we are now running out of water and land for farming and for wildlife is being stolen for human development. This means less water and less land for animals and forests.

Koalas are also killed by dogs, humans, stepped on by cattle, and run down by cars.

Brigitte Bardot's site has a very good page on this, devoted to Victoria's Mornington Peninsula Wildlife carer, Jenny Bryant's Koala Refuge.

But koalas are also loved by many Australians

As you can see from this page
In Australia one of our most famous books was Norman Lindsay's The Magic Pudding, where the hero was a Koala called Bunyip Bluegum, who left his home because he couldn't stand sharing it with his untidy uncle.

This picture shows him eating outside to avoid watching his uncle drag his whiskers in his soup. You can see that Bunyip is being importuned by two small goannas, who want hand-outs.

Since Black Saturday - Feb 7, 2009 - when Australia's worst-ever bushfires on the hottest day in Victoria's recorded history completely destroyed all infrastructure at Wildhaven animal rescue and release center, Alan and Stella Reid have had a few visitors, including Steve Irwin's father, Bob Irwin, and Maryland Wilson of the AWPC, and four kangaroos that also escaped with their lives. Allan Reid tells an incredible story of his own survival as the place burned to the ground leaving him and perhaps four kangaroos alive. Please consider donating money for hay and rebuilding.See alsoImportant Wildhaven Shelter in St Andrews NE Victoria perished needs rebuilding and video.

Bob Irwin of the Australia Zoo between Alan and Stella Reid at Wildhaven 11 March 2009

Phone and electricity still not reconnected

Although the Reids at Wildhaven have had a number of visitors wishing them well, after thirty-one days since the fires on February 7, they would very much appreciate a visit from Telstra to reconnect the land-line and they desperately need an electrician to come and inspect their telegraph poles and certify that the electricity may be reconnected.

Bob Irwin's visit and the Department of "Sustainability" (DSE)

I have lots of film of my own recording a visit on March 10 to Wildhaven, but I was glad of this photo I was sent of Bob Irwin with Allan and Stella Reid. It was taken when he visited them at the devastated Wildhaven site yesterday (March 11, 2009).

Bob Irwin's visit probably means a lot to the Reids because it shows that their serious and significant work supporting wildlife has been recognised by people respected world-wide in the hands-on wildlife-help and species-preservation community. Ironically so, since I also know that the Reids were quite hurt recently to be passed over for a small amount of funding by the Victorian Department of Sustainability (DSE), apparently with a remark that the applicant 'lacked experience'.

Do DSE realise how much damage their lumpen conduct towards wildlife and so-called 'Greenies' does?

I am probably not the only one who thinks that that remark reflects pretty accurately where the DSE is at. Stella and Allan have been running their wildlife shelter for 22 years. DSE could learn from them - that is, if it could first master its arrogance. The Reids built Wildhaven 11 years ago and must have wondered what hit them when the ignorant knockback came.

Wildhaven on March 10, 2009

It is worthwhile noting that the DSE insult still comes to the Reids' minds, even after having Wildhaven totally wiped out by the Black Saturday fires, and almost being wiped out themselves.

Few of the wild creatures they lived for survived

Both of them weep every time that they mention the animals that died - "the kids" - as they refer to them affectionately, although the rest of the time they put on a brave face. Something like sixty-plus injured wildlife they were treating or in the process of releasing, of which each one was an individual with which they had a close relationship, will probably never be seen again. The dam below was full of the bodies of animals for whom the water did not prove sufficient shield against this super-hot fire. The CFA and the police helped the Reids to collect tens of dead animals and then took them away.

Between three and five kangaroos they knew probably survived. Alan wonders if they crawled into wombat holes. A doe, her joey and her adult daughter (known by names I cannot recall) came back to Wildhaven with burned paws. They were darted with anaesthetic so that the Reids could send them for treatment to a wildlife-rescue place that hadn't been burned out. They have all recovered, but, worryingly, the doe jumped the fence of the wildlife-hospital with her joey and has not been seen since.

When he was driving down the hill in the evening away from the scene of the fires, Alan glimpsed a male kangaroo he knew well, travelling alongside his car, and was amazed to see that the roo appeared unscathed. (I cannot remember his name either; it seems very disrespectful of me.)

The Reids also hope that the big male kangaroo with mending burned paws, who has been eating hay on the outskirts of the camp, is who they think he is - "Boof" - pictured below in happier times, with Stella.

Stella & Boof in happier times

Grass is starting to grow back, but it is very short and still brown, because there still has been little rain. There is absolutely nothing for animals to graze on. Even the micro-biota in the earth (representing a lot of carbon) were burned and the top layers are sterile. Stella and Alan are buying bales of hay (at about $17.50AUD each) and putting them out for the animals that survived. The Department of "Sustainability" does absolutely nothing for these animals, on pseudo-scientific macho grounds. Since its main job is to grant licences to shoot and 'harvest' our pitifully sparse wildlife, it is not surprising that its policy is to let them die, even though a million or more of Victoria's animals died in these fires, many from threatened species. The Reids walk into the burnt stick-like trees at dawn and at dusk, looking for old friends who may have survived and for any animal they may be able to help. The Reids deserve the salaries currently going to DSE CEOs. They survive on handouts at the moment. Don't get me wrong - they are not complaining - I am.

Thousands of wildlife photos lost

Stella's wildlife photos are much admired because she can get so close to the subjects and the animals look her back in the eye affectionately or with recognition and readable, respectful expressions. She lost thousands of such extraordinary animal photos in the fires, but almost immediately she was able to get her hands on a computer, she put together a CD of the photos she had received back from correspondents over the years. There is so little left now of the youngsters and adults she knew and loved so dearly. She takes us later into the caravan they are living in now to watch it and tells us the names of the animals in the pictures. It is very sad.

Donations

I brought some warm jumpers (because we are entering autumn) and a doona. Alan said they don't need clothing but Stella accepted these and said she will put the doona in the back of the ute for when she transports animals, to make a soft bed. It is good that my doona will be appreciated. Mostly they need money to buy food and treatment for animal survivors for the next few months to two years. The temporary camp they are living in on the burned site is made up of a caravan, a temporary showroom and a porta-potty which have been lent to them.

As I approached the camp I was struck by the surreality of this view, and I started taking stills.

The portable showroom which was lent as shelter to the Reids, looked like a tiny stage-set in a vast empty landscape and the people preparing afternoon tea there looked like dolls in a dolls' house. Stella and Alan had stayed up half the night painting the concrete block in front green, so it looked like a pretend-lawn before a very neat dolls' house, set down by some giant careful child in a vast neglected yard. I set the tripod up again with the digital camcorder running and when I look the film later that night, it is like watching people walking on and off-stage and hearing them talking. I almost find myself listening for clues to some other scripted drama.

It was hard to tell whether it was a strain or a pleasure to receive visitors. Stella had bought a mobile phone to alleviate the isolation. We had come with a visitor from England who is interested in kangaroo-rescues and the Reids have transformed this open temporary building into something like a pleasant lounge and dining-room. We felt very welcome and at home, and probably that's the way they make the wildlife feel.

Stella has been a member of the Country Fire Authority (CFA) for about 9 years and she had been with Steve Martin (the blond man in the beige top pictured above) fighting a fire on a distant ridge while Alan, her husband, was at home with the animals. She had looked across when there was a sudden burst of fire from that direction, wondering if it was Wildhaven. Others thought that it probably wasn't. But it was. Alan saw the fire coming from the hill where, unbeknowst to him, his wife was, and thought he had about 20 minutes. He says he found out he had only seven minutes. I am putting a video up with his story and footage of Wildhaven at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Td6tWKDC62s for anyone who is interested.

The Future

We all hope that Wildhaven will soon be back in working order. When that happens the future will take over from this terrible past and slowly the scars will heal. They must be very deep and painful scars though, after 11 years in this place, with a past composed of very close connections with the secret lives of thousands of individual creatures, animals that most humans don't even notice, let alone care about. Indeed the Reids have spent 22 years in this region doing this work, all told.

Animals one lives close to are almost a part of one. My dog Nero died after 16 years recently and it was like a door slamming shut on the past and a familiar star disappearing from the sky. Although his elderly sister is still alive, my life seemed to make no sense for months. Even now it doesn't feel right. How difficult it must be then to see an entire galaxy disappear and the ground change irrevocably underneath your feet.

You can send money for hay and equipment etc here:

by direct transfer

Bank details:

Stella Reid
Commonwealth Bank of Australia
BSB: 063 222
Account: 10262617

By cheque

Postal Address

Stella and Alan Reid
c/o St Andrews Post Office
10 Caledonia Street,
St Andrews
Victoria 3761
Australia

By PayPal

PayPal address : [email protected]

Please state there: "for Stella's kangaroos"

The PayPal option might be the most convenient for International donations.

A testimony to the generosity and solidarity of Victorians in a crisis, millions of dollars are pouring in for human bush-fire victims, but the people rescuing animals are digging into their own pockets.
We have enough to take care of everybody, man, woman and wildlife. Please direct some to the wildlife.

Help for Wildlife: Ph 0417 380 687 Nigel's Animal Rescue: Ph 0427 533 083 You can use your credit card.

Being responsible, being truly kind and brave

It is very dangerous to go into the forests still, but people are already bringing out the native animals and someone has to take care of them and feed them. It has been reported to me that the rescuers are simply digging into their own pockets and that they are filling up their homes with injured creatures. These animal rescuers and nurses deserve full-time salaries from the government, as well as medals - all year round.
Help for Wildlife: Ph 0417 380 687 Nigel's Animal Rescue: Ph 0427 533 083

Please show that you are not as stingy or pitiless as our government.

You might think that the Department of Sustainability, which administers the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act (never ever applied) and the Wildlife Act is taking care of things. Well I would like to know what they are doing for wildlife right now, apart from issuing dubious culling licences.

Time to show solidarity with all creatures great and small

It is we humans who caused the fires by thinning the forests over two centuries and letting in the light which dries them up.
The forests control the climate. Without them the ground heats up and turns to desert where nothing grows. The forests need the animals and we need the forests.

The forests CAN BE helped.

We have to rehabilitate Victoria. That includes all Victorians - feathered, furred, finned and foliaged as well as human.

The Help for Wildlife response team who are actually based in the vicinity where the Kinglake/ Healesville fires occurred are on standby waiting to enter the foreground when safe to rescue injured wildlife. They already have a number of animals in care at this early stage and are expecting many more needing help.

They desperately need medical supplies such as silverzine cream, non stick dressings, soft bandages, vet wrap, Saline, disinfectant/clorhexidine, syringes, pain relief and antibiotics.

Also needing feed such as hay to provide food for starving wildlife and donations for fuel to carry out the extensive search and rescue needed to help these animals. Notably kangaroos and wallabies found in abundance in this area can take months to recover and require a great deal of dressings and medication during this time.

HELP FOR WILDLIFE - PO Box 181 COLDSTREAM. 3770. Ph 0417 380 687

NIGEL’S ANIMAL RESCUE- PO BOX 1096 HARTWELL 3124 Ph 0427 533 083

All money donations received will be spent directly on injured wildlife - there are no administration costs and Help for Wildlife does not have paid staff. Its all for the wildlife - please help us help our wildlife in need

Please also note these other animal help contacts:

For Farm animals in distress: please contact DPI emergency hotline 136186
For injured wildlife -Wildlife Victoria 13000 94535
For wildlife and domestic please call RSPCA 9224 2222

Melbourne Uni Vet Clinic offering free treatment to fire-injured pets and horses

The University of Melbourne’s veterinary clinic at Werribee has offered to provide free treatment to pets and horses injured in the fires. Emergency & critical care: 9731 2232