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Rescue News 1

Sunshine Coast Wildlife Rehabilitators

Welcome to issue 2 of Rescue News. There was a good response to issue 1 so we’ll keep going until someone says stop!

At last our native icon, the koala, has been listed as ‘Threatened’. Hopefully we will start to see not only greater protection of koala habitat

but also land being ‘ear-marked’ specifically as conservation habitat by councils. If we save the koala we save so many other species. This is welcome news and we must take off our hats to those behind the campaign that got to this stage. Keep up the great work! Ed

A monthly newsletter Issue 2 May 2012

Reptile Education Convention Saturday 2 June 2012

10:00am – 4:30pm Venue: The Mansfield Tavern 181 Wecker Road, Mansfield

$59.95 per Pet City Club Member $69.95 per Non Pet City Club Member Registration includes:

Bottomless Tea and Coffee. Roast Beef or Chicken with Roast Vegetables followed by Dessert. Bar is open (at delegates expense) from 12:30pm – 1:30pm.

If you wish to stay on for dinner after the convention, a special Delegates price will be available on the day

All proceeds from ticket sales go to Wildcare Australia

Reptile products available for purchase on the day

Some of Troy Kuligowskis collection will be on display

Everyone receives a FREE goodies bag

Speakers include: Dr Danny Brown—Husbandry of Geckos

Dr Debra Monks—Hygiene and Illness of most common diseases Dr Gaven Bedford—Experiences found with Oenpelli Pythons

Ben Whittle and Troy Kuligowski—Jag Genetics Brad Walker—Python Husbandry and

How to Start a Career in the Reptile Industry

Book early by 30 April, 2012 for the Early Bird Lucky Draw

to win a $250 voucher from Reptile One

SNAKES ALIVE!Reptiles and snakes in particular do get a hard time when it comes to their co-habitation with humans. Blue Tongue lizards often get bludgeoned to death in the garden as their heads get mistaken for that of a brown snake or other fear inducing species. By the time realization sets in it’s too late and a beautiful Blue Tongue dies. Education is the key to living safely with reptiles and snakes and the Reptile conference will be a great opportunity to see first hand how amazing these creatures are.

Little Lia UpdateYou may remember in the last issue a small article about Lia the Galah on a treatment plan at AZWH. Well, she’s home and has brought a new buddy with her, Nay Nay. Lia seems to be mimicking ‘symptoms’ as after extensive treatment, exploration and a lot of hair pulling out she seems to be perfectly healthy. She has always had behavioural problems so we are now working on those hoping Nay Nay will help!

picture courtesy of WILDCARE Koala species information

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Shorebirds

Pacific golden plover (Image courtesy Robert Inglis)

The Sunshine Coast is a highly significant habitat for feeding, resting and nesting of resident and migratory shorebirds. These fascinat ing species carry out the longest journeys known in the natural world, some travelling tens of thousands of kilometres every year to reach our shores.Shorebirds, also known as waders, are a diverse group that comprise ten p e r c e n t o f A u s t r a l i a ' s b i r d species . Sandpipers , p lovers , oystercatchers and other shorebird species gather in large numbers in intertidal areas (between the low and high tide points) or on the fringes of f reshwater wet lands . On the Sunshine Coast, shorebirds can be seen in the estuaries, on the beaches and around the rocky headlands of N o o s a , M a r o o c h y d o r e a n d the internationally recognised Pumicestone Passage.Shorebird characteristics

• Shorebirds generally have long legs in relation to their b o d y s i z e , n o

•Pied oystercatchers (Image courtesy

Robert Inglis)

webbing on their feet, most

shorebird species normally don't swim.

• Shorebirds feed according to the tide, regardless of whether or not it is day or night, using their long beaks to dig for w o r m s , i n s e c t s a n d crustaceans.

• Near the end of summer, many species will molt and change into spectacular b r e e d i n g p l u m a g e - announcing their suitability as potential partners.

• W h e n s h o r e b i r d s t a k e flight for the next leg of their journey, some will form a beautiful "V" formation in the sky before heading off like a giant arrow.

Annual migration

About a third of local shorebird species are residents of the Coast, although some may travel to other locations within Australia. Most however are long distance migrants from northern hemisphere breeding grounds, spending only the months between September and April on the Coast.

Double banded plover (Image courtesy Robert Inglis)

Leaving the beginnings of harsh colder months in the north, the birds navigate their way to Australia using memory and instinct, sun, moon, and stars. They may fly for days at a time without rest or food, stopping off at "staging sites" in the Yellow Sea to build up further stores of fat and protein for the next leg of their flight. The birds arrive exhausted,

and some may not make the full journey, succumbing to extreme weather conditions or fatigue.

The time these birds spend on the Coast resting and feeding is crucial to whether or not they wi l l survive their return journey. Many of these species may only be able to feed during the lower end of the tides as mud flats become exposed. Known as intertidal feeding, these low tide times are critical for the birds in rebuilding their stocks before flying north once again. Migrating birds may need to build up 30 to 72% in weight gain, helping to increase their flight muscles before they leave.

TWINNIES SEABIRD & PELICAN RESCUE

Location: 2147 Steve Irwin Way Landsborough Qld 4550

Postal Address: PO Box 173 Beerwah Qld 4519

Telephone: 07 5439 9995

Rescue Hotline 0421 476 561

info@twinniespelicanandseabirdrescue.com

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THE IMPORTANCE OF APPROPRIATE HOUSING FOR BIRDS

Correct housing for birds is vital for good rehabilitation, especially if the bird is to be in care for an extended period.In this issue I am going to look at kookaburras, and in particular, adult kooky’s.For birds that come into care and require cage rest only a cube cage of 600 mm is about the right size. The internal sides of the cage should have a curtaining of either shade cloth or similar all the way around, this is to help protect the kookaburras feathers as they are prone to flap a great deal and break tail feathers very easily. If too many tail feathers are lost through breakage this causes a secondary problem and can, in turn, cause the bird to stay in care for a much longer period of time whilst feathers grow back. If you do have this experience the bird must be taken to an experienced wildlife vet and have the tail feather shafts cleared to allow tail feathers to re grow rather than wait for a natural molt. All housing, from cages to enclosures must of course be snake proof unless birds are being kept within the home.For kookaburras who are able to be rehabilitated in an enclosure the same type of rules apply as they

did with a cage. Internal walls must be soft sidedThe photos above are of my kookaburra enclosure. The frame is constructed of tubular steel with shade cloth sides and roofing. Timber boards are used along all floor edges and partially buried in the earth. 1/3 of the enclosure has a roofed area which is a tarp and I chose to use one of the silver ones with high UV resistance. The floor remains a natural dirt substrate and I have a small compost heap of leaf litter in one corner. This is designed to provide a breeding ground for insects, beetles, grubs and larvae which the kookaburras enjoy catching. The enclosure is 4x3x3.5 m and does allow the birds to build up strength flying from one end to the other. I provide foliage in poly pipes attached to upright branches which have been buried into the ground. These uprights form the frame work for the perches to be attached to. The foliage is firstly to mimic habitat and secondly also attracts bugs and insects.Stumps and logs are important too. Kookaburras pounce on their prey and need to have several vantage points for this to be able to happen especially when you are live feeding.

Kooky’s also like to bathe...providing a large roasting pan size container with fresh water each day will be appreciated plus another container for drinking water. You will find this will need changing at least twice a day. They are really mucky birds!

The photograph below shows me with Fizzy and Joah. Both of these were orphans who were adopted by our local wild kookaburras. Each night they were brought in and then put out in a cage again during the daytime so that the wild birds could come and feed them. It was a really successful outcome for all concerned and a magic day when they flew off out.Ed

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THE DUSTY FILES!This is Dusty, for anyone who hasn’t met him yet. I was asked by Gail Gipp to try and rehabilitate him. He was born a wild bird but was orphaned as a chick and raised by human parents. Unfortunately, Dusty became more of a pet and very imprinted. Dusty finally ended up at AZWH and was in need of a home - and here he is. He spends a lot of time free roaming in the gardens and out in the paddock. He sees the wild cockatoos that come in most evenings and he’s no longer afraid of them. Sadly, Dusty cannot fly as he had both of his wings clipped. Dr Amber at AZWH decided not to clear the feather shafts by removing the clipped feathers as it would have been very painful, despite having the procedure done under anesthetic the recovery would have beed too distressing. So we are waiting for a natural molt. Like all cockatoos he’s noisy,

destructive, loves the rain (hose pipe), inquisitive and highly intelligent. Sadly, D u s t y ’s s t o r y i s n o t uncommon. Sometimes it can be tempting to hang onto a bird or animal and keep it as a pet - wild birds and animals are not pets, should never be pets and they will never be truly happy or fulfilled. I hate having to put Dusty back in his aviary because he is a wild bird ruined by human intervention. It’s a long road for him but at least he has a chance.

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Providing the Natural Diet

The early introduction of the natural diet to the young orphaned possum is critical to its well being. As soon as the joey has teeth it should be given a variety of tender tips of native species especially eucalypts and wattle. These can be placed in the pouch with the joey or if this upsets the joey, just outside the pouch with the tips leaning into it. At first the animal will only mouth the food but before long it will begin to nibble on it.

Do not give flowers, fruit, vegetables or other food to ringtail possums before they weigh 150-200g, only give native vegetation. You must be able to provide a variety of good quality native foliage.

Once the animal has reached pouch emergence stage, its small aviary should be set up with branches for chewing as well as climbing. A selection of fresh foliage (see suggestions In the Natural Diet below), should be collected each day and placed in fixed water containers in the small aviary. The water containers are to keep the vegetation fresh and should be such that the

animals cannot get stuck in them or drown.

As the animal increases its intake of solid food each day the amount of formula is reduced as is the number of feeds. As these animals are nocturnal, we are aiming to get them into a nocturnal pattern of behavior, so we stretch the time between the day milk formula feeds first, until the animal is on three feeds, morning, early evening and late evening. By this stage the animal will remain undisturbed during the day.

It is important to keep in mind that the joey has to survive in the wild. Choose food species from the area where it will be released, even if this means taking a drive a few times a week to collect suitable vegetation. Vegetation will keep well in the fridge for two to three days only. When an animal first comes into care it may need to be treated as a younger animal until it has become used to its new lifestyle. Therefore it may initially need more feeds per day.

VARIETY OF NATIVE VEGETATION Small cage: Provide 3 - 4 different species of good

quality tip each night. Introduce a couple

of new species each night.

Large cage: Provide 6 - 8 different species each night. Introduce two or more new species each night. Collect from different plants of the same species as palatability and nutritional value can vary.

Aviary: Provide 8 – 12 different species each night. Introduce two or more new species each night. Collect from different plants of the same species as palatability and nutritional value can vary. Add branches with bark for chewing.

QUANTITY AND SIZE OF NATIVE VEGETATION

Small cage: Tips of trees, shrubs, vines can be placed in a secure spice jar containing water to keep them fresh.

Large cage: Branches, with good quality foliage, of about 50cm to 1 meter long, placed in a fixed water container. Pick about 10 - 12 fresh branches each day. Include in the selection branches from different plants of the same species as (cont.)

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palatability and nutritional value can vary.

Aviary: Branches of 1 meter or more p l a c e d i n l a rg e w a t e r- f i l l e d containers. Pick 15 - 20 branches each day. Include in the selection branches from different plants of the same species as palatability and nutritional value can vary.

The natural diet should make up the bulk of the orphaned possum’s diet as the milk feeds are reduced. The vegetation should be collected from the area where the possum is to be released. Avoid areas that may be polluted such as roadsides, or where pesticides or herbicides may have been used.

Cut branches with new and old growth from trees, shrubs, vines, herbs. Include leaves, buds, flowers, fruits, seeds, and bark for chewing and stripping. Variety is important as possums regulate the amount toxins they consume, so they need a good choice of not only different species, but of plants of the same species. For example, at times they will eat from one particular plant with relish and at other times they will not touch it.

Some suggestions: Eucalyptus spp. (gum trees), Acacia spp. (wattles), Callistemon spp. (bottle brush), Melaleuca spp.(tea tree) , Leptospermum spp.(tea tree), Rhodamnia spp. (mallet wood), Cryptocaria spp., Sygyzium spp.

(lillypilly), Acmena spp.(lillypilly), Guioa spp. Claoxylon sp., Synoum sp., Ficus spp., Dodonaea spp., Kennedia sp., Hardenbergia sp., Smilax spp.

Collect mushrooms and toadstools and fungi found on fallen logs,.

Invertebrates such as moths and grasshoppers should be provided as well as the invertebrates found on the foliage.

Brush-tails are generalists, but would not choose as much Eucalyptus spp. as ringtails. They also require insects to increase their protein intake.

Ringtails have a better capacity for dealing with Eucalyptus spp. so it may make up a larger percentage of the diet. Ringtails like a denser understorey so look at what is available there.

Short-eared Possums according to some reports do not eat Eucalyptus spp. Their diet comes from the under-story and ground levels of the wetter forests, hence fungi and rainforest species make up their diet.

Reproduce from Possums of SE QLD by WILDCARE with any thanks.

Learning as much as we can to help rehabilitate these amazing creatures will ultimately result in greater survival and less stress upon release.

An aviary set up to accommodate a single Common Brush Tail PossumPhotos C Smith

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These three pictures were taken of Buttons the Bush Turkey. He had been attacked by a cat and came into care for a week before being released - what a gorgeous boy!Photos C Smith

Flying-foxes are crucial to keeping native forests healthy. They play an important role in dispersing seeds and pollinating flowering plants. Because flying-foxes are highly mobile, seeds can be moved locally and over great distances. When seeds are able to germinate away from their parent plant, they can have a greater chance of surviving and growing into a mature plant. Seed dispersal also expands the gene pool within forests. Mature trees then share their genes with neighboring trees of the same species and this transfer strengthens forests against environmental changes.

High mobility also makes flying-foxes very effective as forest pollinators. Pollen sticks to their furry bodies and as they crawl from flower to flower, and fly from tree to tree, they pollinate the flowers and aid in the production of honey. This reinforces the gene pool and health of native forests. (DERM)

Queensland Health advises that there is no evidence of human-to-human transmission of Hendra virus. Testing of people who have come in contact with a person infected with the Hendra virus, including health care workers and family contacts, has shown no evidence of the virus.

There is also no evidence that the virus can be passed directly from flying-foxes to humans, from the environment to humans, from humans to horses, or that it is airborne.

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Common signs of pain in native wildlife

1. Sitting hunched with its head down

2. Sitting with its feathers fluffed up

3. Teeth grinding

4. Decreased response to stimuli – slow to respond to sound, appears asleep, glazed eyes

5. Aggressive behavior

6. Avoiding normal movement – lame, sitting quietly

7. Keeping its eyes closed

8. Insomnia

9. Panting

10. Not eating or drinking

11. Increase in respiration and heart rate

12. Licking or picking at the sore area

13. Vocalizing - incredibly rare and is usually the end point of pain

Monthly Round UpThe last few weeks have seen large numbers of birds in road trauma but thankfully possums seem to be fairing a bit better.The last of the juvenile/sub adult kookaburras and magpies have been released and now we wait with bated breath for spring and the influx of orphaned babies. Get some sleep while you can!Of course our macropods are still suffering on our coast roads and the koalas just keep on coming.As rehabilitators we certainly have our work cut out for us and it’s really good if we can stay in touch with each other for support and just to share information. It gets pretty tough for some carers!

THE IMPORTANCE OF ENRICHMENT FOR WILDLIFE IN CARE

We all know how important it is to get patients in and out as quickly as possibly to reduce stress, imprinting and to basically get it back to where it belongs. No wildlife enjoys being in care! However, even for birds / animals in sort term care it is absolutely vital to provide enrichment to aid good recovery and for those in long term care it is probably more important.Enrichment can be anything from a buddy, i.e for galah’s - mutual preening is a huge part of these birds daily habit and birds will fair much better in care if they can be placed with a ‘buddy’. It’s vital that we ‘think’ like whatever it is we have in care and try as best as we can to provide ‘things to do’ whilst we have that bird / animal in our care. Another example would be wading birds such as swamp hens - a cat litter type tray filled with water, pond weed and appropriate food is ideal for these birds to mimic natural food source. Familiarity makes us as humans feel more secure and comfortable and the same is true for wildlife. Research as much as you can - recreate as much as you can and rehabilitation will be much easier.

Photos C Smith

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Not enough

The Australian Koala Foundation says it is a victory for Queensland and New South Wales.

But foundation CEO Deborah Tabart says the protection does not go far enough and the Federal Government has underestimated the danger koalas face.

She says she believes Mr Burke has been misinformed that there are 200,000 koalas in the wild.

"At the moment we're still of the opinion that there's not that many koalas, less than 100,000. Victoria still needs to be protected," she said.

"I'm delighted with this because it is going to slow things down, but it's not going to save our koalas."

It is the fourth time since 1996 the Government's advisory group, the Threatened Species Scientific Committee (TSSC), has considered the koala's situation.

Ms Tabart says she wants to see the science the decision is based on.

"We have offered our maps to Minister Burke, $8 million worth, 26,000 man hours, 100,000 trees, 2,000 field sites," she said.

"So for me to see money thrown into mapping, $300,000, I still want to see the science. We've never seen any science from the TSSC. We just usually get a letter that says yes or no."

Koalas in Queensland, New South Wales and the ACT are being classified as vulnerable and added to the threatened species list.

Koala numbers have dropped by 40 per cent in Queensland and by a third in New South Wales over the past 20 years. There are no wild koalas in the ACT.

Federal Environment Minister Tony Burke says it is not a national listing because there are large koala populations in South Australia and Victoria.

"In Victoria and South Australia, koalas have actually been in such high numbers they've been eating themselves out of habitat. There's what you call population control measures going on there ... like sterilization," he said.

"But in places like NSW and Queensland, their numbers have been taking a massive hit."

Mr Burke says a species is usually not considered endangered if it is bountiful in some locations.

"On a species as iconic as the koala, I really don't think I could have credibly said to the Australian people, 'oh don't worry, you might not have any more in Queensland the way things are going, but you can go to South Australia if you want to see one'," he said.

Mr Burke says the listings will be state wide and developers will have to take into account the changes when making building applications.

"If someone wants to make a development there is a tougher hurdle as a result of a species being endangered," he said.

"That is what environmental legislation is designed to do."

The Government has also announced $300,000 of new research funding to find out more about koala habitats.

But Queensland Premier Campbell Newman says the listing of koalas as a threatened species will add unnecessary green tape.

Mr Newman says the decision is at odds with the Federal Government's previous commitment to reduce regulations, and existing state protections could simply have been improved.

"It's more needless duplication, it's more mindless green tape, it's more delay and obstruction by Canberra and I just ask the Prime Minister to go and have a long hard look at what her government is trying to achieve," he said.

Source ABC News

Photos courtesy of Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary.

www.koala.net

Shame on you ‘Can Do’ Mr Newman - Ed

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DIET FOR BIRDS IN CARE

With thanks to AZWH we are including in this issue a feeding guide for the most commonly hospitalized birds. They are broken down into nine groups:

KEY DIET

1 Raptors

2 Fruit eaters

3Water birds, waders, divers

4 Small insectivorous birds

5 Large insectivorous & meat eaters, ground feeders

6 Waders, grazers, long legged grazers, duck, plovers

7 Granivores, ground feeders

8 Nectar feeders, semi arboreal

9 Honeyeaters/ lorikeets

SPECIES

Barn Owl Raptor Nocturnal 1

Blue Faced Honeyeater 9

Buzzard Raptor 1

Pacific Duck 6

Boobook Owl Raptor 1

Butcherbird 5

Cormorant 3

Coucal pheasant 5

Crested pigeon 7

Crow 5

Cuckoo, Channel Bill 2

Curlew 6

Currawong 5

Corella 7

Doves 7

Dollar bird 5

Egret water bird 3

Fig bird, reclusive 2

Finches, communal 7

Friar birds 9

Galah, ground feeders 7

Kingfisher,sacred, stressy 4

Kingfisher, Azure, stressy 3

Kingfisher, forest, stressy 4

Koel, reclusive 2

Kookaburra 5

Lorikeets 9

Magpie ground feeder 5

Magpie goose, wader, grazer 6

Noisy minors 8

Orioles 2

Fruit dove 2

Pee Wee 4

Peregrine falcon 1

Plovers 6

Purple swamp hen 6

Rosellas, ground feeder 7

Sulphur crested cockatoo 7

Swallows 4

Tawny Frogmouth 5

Wattlebird 8

White faced heron 3

Willie Wags 4

Wood duck 6

Whistling duck 6

Whistling kite 1

Wrens 4

Yellow tail black cocky 7

Diet 1 - RAPTORS

Mice, rats, small birds, ringtail possums, rabbit, snub nose garfish, whiting - if Coastal feed fish and rodents, if inland no fish. It is against the law to feed live mammals to wildlife in care.

Diet 2 - FRUIT EATERS

Mungbeans, mulberries, pawpaw with seeds, banana,grapes red/dark, blueberries, native figs, stone fruit, rock melon. Also offer meal worms/insects/ crickets & moths for some species.

Diet 3 - WATER BIRDS

S n u b n o s e d g a r f i s h , w h i t i n g , p i l c h a r d s , b a i t prawns,tadpoles & frogs

Do not feed toads.

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D i e t 4 - S M A L L INSECTIVOROUS

P r e m i u m m i n c e m i x e d w i t h insectivore, calcium powder and vitamin powder, add dried bread crumbs to mix. You can also add chopped or whole meal worms or insects.

D i e t 5 - L A R G E INSECTIVOROUS & MEAT EATERS , ground feeders

As per diet 4. Beef heart strips can be used instead of mince..crickets, moths, day old chicks and small mice can also be offered.

Diet 6 - WADERS, GRAZERS, LONG LEGGED GRAZERS

Variety of chopped greens, i.e endive, broccoli,bean sprouts, cabbage, corn, leafy greens, carrot, sweet potato etc

Chick starter, insectivore, fine shell grit, small grain mix, calcium & multi-vitamins. For water loving birds, grass and chopped endives or bok choy should be provided in small amounts in a shallow pool or water bowl for enrichment.

Curlews require more meat in their diet so beef strips or mince or beef heart can be blended in a blender and then add veg and egg and biscuit, mix until dry crumble is formed.

Diet 7 - Granivores, ground feeders

Small grain/seed mix, soaked seed mix plus fine shell grit, very small amount of insectivorous mix, balanced finch/parrot crumbles.

Parrots/Rosellas/Galah's

Parrot seed mix, soaked seed mix, native seed pods, leaf tip and flowers, grass clumps, clover, lucerne etc include roots and dirt, offer hard fruit such as apple.

For cockatoo family ensure there is a good supply of eucalyptus branches in their enclosure. They will enjoy the bark, pith, leaves etc and they use it to water-proof their feathers. Great for enrichment.

Diet 8 - NECTAR FEEDERS , semi arboreal

Wombaroo honeyeater wet mix, chopped soft fruit as in diet 2, meat/insectivore, meal worms/insects, native flowers.

Diet 9 - Honeyeaters / Lorikeets

30 gms of Wombaroo lorikeet and honeyeater food. Mix with 50 ml of par-boiled water. Add water to make up-to 100 ml.

What is a raptor?

Did you know that the word raptor comes from the Latin, rapere, which means to seize?

The birds we classify as raptors seize their prey using their strong feet or talons. Their hooked bill is then used to tear the prey apart to feed to themselves or their young. Raptors are also known as “birds of prey” because they hunt mammals, reptiles, insects, fish and other birds for their food but so do some other birds. Laughing Kookaburras, Tawny Frogmouths and Australian Pelicans

are examples of birds that eat prey but catch it with their bills – not their feet.

In Australia we have 25 species of diurnal raptors which includes eagles, hawks, kites and falcons. The largest is the Wedge-tailed Eagle and the smallest is the Nankeen Kestrel. The Peregrine Falcon is the fastest, diving at speeds of about 300kmph

Owls are nocturnal raptors and we have 10 Australian species. The Southern Boobook is found all over Australia and the Barn Owl can be found around the world.

RAPTOR FACTS

Raptor Beak — hooked, sharp and powerful.

Raptor feet — strong talons with sharp claws for gripping prey. Most use their feet to kill by sinking their talons into the flesh of their victims and quickly crushing them to death.

Raptor Digestion — regurgitate pellets of the indigestible parts of their food, mainly bones and fur. Most pluck the birds that they kill before eating them as raptors cannot digest feathers. Owls are the only birds of prey that swallow their prey whole.

Raptor Sight — Sight is their most important sense for finding and hunting prey. A raptor’s eye size is large in relation to its head size, and their eyes look forward. This binocular forward vision allows them to accurately judge distances

Raptor Hearing — Owls have the best hearing of all birds. Their sense of hearing is vital to them locating and catching their prey, and owls have asymmetrical ears that allow them to pinpoint where the smallest sound is coming from.

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AUSTRALIA ZOO WILDLIFE HOSPITAL

Where would we all be without the hospital and it’s amazing staff? I can’t imagine. What I do know is that this facility has made a huge difference to our native wildlife and survival rates.

It must have been so much harder before the hospital...I am personally very grateful that we have it on our doorstep.

Thank you to all the reception staff, Cathy and her team...thank you to all the nurses, Vicky and her team and last but not least thank you to Dr Claude, Dr Amber, Dr Robyn and Dr Bec.

The dedication and care which is demonstrated every day is something we as a community should be very proud of. The hospital is the biggest wildlife hospital taking care of thousands of patients each year. Operating 365 days, 24/7, well, what else is there to say other than THANK YOU.

I think it’s easy to forget the significance of what we have here on the coast. The Zoo and the Hospital are known around the world from Tottenham Court Road to Timbuktu!

This issue of Rescue News finishes with some pictures of Dr Amber, doing what she loves most....making a difference to the lives of our native wildlife.

DO YOU FULLY UNDERSTAND THE

OBJECTIVES OF REHABILITATION? It is far better to release one

viable survivor than to release 10 individuals with a

poor survival chance.