Orphaned and injured wildlife come to WILVOS from various areas around the Sunshine
Coast and hinterland. The majority of animals come through our WILVOS 5441 6200
Hotline, the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital, RSPCA’s Eumundi Wildlife Rehabilitation
Centre or our local vets.
Whether orphaned or needing rehabilitation, native animals may be in care for many months.
Kangaroos and possums may need our care for six to twelve months
Then there is the considerable planning involved in the release process. Suitable properties
have to be found and ecologists assess the habitat. What is the existing population of the
species? Are there feral predators in the area? Are there uncontained domestic dogs or cats
in the area? What native predators are around?
Land for Wildlife properties often provide ideal release sites and much of the environmental
information has already been gathered. It has been especially interesting when land owners
utilize wildlife monitoring cameras with released possums and gliders. This gives some
insight into just what is happening out there. Some animals are braver than others at
venturing out of their nesting box on those first nights of freedom.
As rehabilitators of wildlife, carers have a responsibility to record details from when the
native animal comes into care. Times and amounts of feed, housing and weights are all
important in monitoring wildlife in care. It is more than just looking after a cute native
animal. Each animal is an educational process from start to finish.
Possums and gliders are provided with nestboxes at an early stage and are placed up in trees
on release day, with the animal inside. Having a familiar home helps in what must be a scarey
event! Maybe further down the track, other marsupials or birds may use these nestboxes, but
they are desperately needed in a world where trees are removed with no thought for the
inhabitants.
Donna Brennan Wildlife Volunteers Assoc Inc (WILVOS) PO Box 4805 Sunshine Coast Mail
Centre Q 4560 PH 5441 6200 www.wilvos.org.au
Releasing rehabilitated wildlife.
