https://yourlocallifestlye.com.au
It is that time of year when our native animals are getting busy. Even the koalas are noisy! Our WILVOS 24 hour 5441 6200 Hotline really is running hot.
WILVOS, one of the longest running Queensland wildlife rehabilitation organizations, dates back to 1986. In 1993 the group became an incorporated body, Wildlife Volunteers Association Incorporated. Better known as WILVOS the group still worked closely with Qld National Parks & Wildlife Service. Soon after, National Parks handed all administration, 24 hour Hotline, and costs involved, over to WILVOS. Thank you – that was a shock! It was often a struggle to meet phone and printing costs. The volunteers did an amazing job – as they still do to this day
WILVOS received over 6,000 Hotline phone calls this past year. Some were for lesser known native animals such as Antechinus and Phascogales.
Last week saw our first family of brush-tailed phascogales come into care after a hollow tree branch was cut down. Old trees are so precious and so undervalued as homes for wildlife. These five little phascogale joeys are fascinating. Often tragically mistaken for mice when small, WILVOS have only had single phascogales in the past, so it will be a wonderful research project to document the development stages of these five carnivorous marsupials. They actually kill and eat feral mice and rat species, which is a much better solution than the second generation anticoagulant rodenticides which, sadly, are still sold in Australian shops.
WILVOS, as a fully volunteer-run organization, works closely with the Australian Wildlife Hospital, RSPCA’s Eumundi Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre and our wonderful local veterinarians. Once assessed, wildlife carers take on the care of the animals. This rehabilitation process may take up to a year or more for animals such as eastern grey kangaroos, when they come in as young furless joeys.
Most members are trained as rehabilitators or Hotline operators, working from their own homes. Friends of WILVOS are special people who support the organization as financial donors, work on community awareness stalls or just spread the word on our unique Australian fauna. Skilled volunteers, whether accountants, data analysts or co-ordinators, are always needed on the administrative team. We love and welcome you all!
WILVOS mission has always been to improve the outcome for all Australian native animals.
Donna Brennan Wildlife Volunteers Assoc Inc (WILVOS) PO Box 4805 Sunshine Coast Mail Centre Q 4560 PH 5441 6200 www.wilvos.org.au