WILVOS to the rescue…..

Though a quieter time of year there are no less interesting calls on the WILVOS 5441 6200
Hotline. Our newly trained Hotliners are doing a great job.
One night last week a call came from a lady in Sydney. Her mother who lived on the
Sunshine Coast had hit a kangaroo in her vehicle. Understandably distressed, she pulled her
car over to safety and called the first person to come to mind. Her daughter called another
wildlife group on the Sunshine Coast who recommended she call WILVOS. Our Hotliner
managed the call beautifully, ensuring all people and animals were cared for very promptly.
Unfortunately with adult kangaroos, they may need to be euthanized due to serious
compound fractures to their legs. When a motorist makes this call it saves an animal
incredible suffering. Wildlife have to do their best to hide their distress and injuries, or
predators will see them as easy prey. Nevertheless, they feel pain the same as we do, and this
pain needs to be treated as soon as possible. A phone call to a wildlife group, with the
location of impact, does not take long.
I have had the privilege of babysitting another little swamp wallaby joey for a week. Each
joey is such an individual – entertaining and always educational! Observation of our native
animals is a major part of wildlife rehabilitation.
We like joeys to be reared in an environment as close as possible to their wild habitat. That
is why they aren’t hopping around the house like domestic cats and dogs. Once furred, the
grass, bushes, shelter and sunshine mean a contented animal!
This week we also remember our own human history. Past and present members of our
Armed Forces are in our thoughts. I love the increasing tradition of lights at the end of the
driveways on Anzac Day dawn. So often our own history is forgotten as we dwell on other
issues at home and around the world.
Donna Brennan Wildlife Volunteers Assoc Inc (WILVOS) PO Box 4805 Sunshine Coast Mail
Centre Q 4560 PH 5441 6200 www.wilvos.org.au