Animal rescuers prepare for surge of injured wildlife after carwoola bushfire
Animal rescuers prepare for surge of injured wildlife after carwoola bushfire
26 February 2017
published by http://www.canberratimes.com.au
AUSTRALIA – As the clean up continues after last week’s devastating bushfire at Carwoola, thoughts are now turning to how best to care for the many animals and livestock who suffered injuries from the blaze.
Many wildlife carers across the area are expecting to see a surge in the number of injured kangaroos, as animal rescue volunteers gain greater access to the fireground in coming days.
Helen Stevens is the animal species co-ordinator for Wildcare Queanbeyan, a volunteer animal rescue organisation, and she said they were being presented with many kangaroos suffering severe burns.
“All the animals we’ve found so far have been kangaroos, with burns to their feet, hands and their pouch,” she said.
“We’ve been giving them veterinary assistance and pain relief and also having their wounds cleaned and dressed.”
The Carwoola bushfire destroyed 11 homes, damaged a further 12 and razed more than 3500 hectares of land.
Ms Stevens said, along with homes and properties, many animal habitats were also destroyed in the blaze, affecting other marsupials such as possums and wombats.
“By the time that they are rescued, they’re often very traumatised by the situation that they were just in,” she said.
Since the bushfires broke out in the area on February 17, Wildcare Queanbeyan’s small team of five volunteers have been caring for injured animals around-the-clock.
Ms Stevens said when it comes to looking after animals with severe burns, the treatment was often similar to that of a human.
Since the bushfires broke out in the area on February 17, Wildcare Queanbeyan’s small team of five volunteers have been caring for injured animals around-the-clock.
Ms Stevens said when it comes to looking after animals with severe burns, the treatment was often similar to that of a human.
“Some of the kangaroos will be in our care for three weeks, others for two to three months. The burns are slow healing and are long-term injuries,” she said.
“Others will take a bit longer to recover because of lung damage and infections, which will take a while to heal. It’s very early days for the animals to make a full recovery.”
Bungendore Vet reported several cats were brought into their surgery in the aftermath of the fire, mostly suffering burns to the pads of their paws.
Jill Elderton from the vet clinic said many of the cats were being brought in every second day by their owners for burns treatment.
“It’s just like any human burn, it takes a lot of care and medication, as well as dressing the burn,” she said.
Not all cats brought into the vet following the fires have been reclaimed, however, with vet staff still searching for the owners of one cat they have named Rudolph.
“We called him Rudolph because of his burnt nose and he doesn’t have a microchip,” Ms Elderton said.
“While he has a very identifiable collar, he’s really quite sick and he’s been badly burnt … he’s got a long battle ahead of him.”
Appeals have been put out on the Bungendore Vet’s Facebook page in attempts to find Rudolph’s owner.
In the days ahead, Ms Stevens said more wildlife affected by the recent fires will be spotted, and people are urged to be on the lookout for animals as they return to fire-affected areas.
