Healesville Sanctuary keepers with Tinka the Red Kangaroo, who was bought up on Cornflakes and Vegemite sandwiches. By Monique Ebrington
WHILE Christmas is a season to look forward to for many, it can be a tough time for native animals.
And often, Healesville Sanctuary can help. It advises drivers who hit or find an injured animal on the side of the road to note the spot and report it because often, the animals can be rehabilitated and released back into their habitat.
The sanctuary’s senior vet, Rupert Baker, said that while finding an injured animal might be daunting, it was important to note the place where it had been found.
“By law, animals can only be released where they have been found,” Dr Baker said. “If they are released in the wrong spot or in a different environment then the animal may not be used to that environment and may not be able to find food.”
Dr Baker said there were steps to take after finding injured wildlife.
It’s best to keep the animal in the dark so that it can’t see humans, contact a wildlife carer or vet and, if it’s going to be a long time before care, offer the animal water.
Tinka the Red Kangaroo was picked up from the side of the road, out of her mother’s pouch, by a woman holidaying through the Northern Territory.
The woman bought her back to Victoria and fed her on Cornflakes and Vegemite sandwiches until she got too big to handle. She then took the kangaroo to Healesville Sanctuary.
“It’s amazing that Tinka is alive because kangaroos need a specific type of kangaroo milk and also need to be fed every hour,” Dr Baker said. “The woman who found Tinka managed to hit the conditions first-off, but wildlife carers are trained to do this and there’s a lot of skill involved; that’s why it’s illegal for people look after wildlife.”
While the woman had the best intentions, Dr Baker said the best thing to do was to call a wildlife carer.
For inquiries on injured wildlife, phone the Australian Wildlife Health Centre on 5957 2829 or call the RACV on 131111 because it can set up a carer for animals injured on the road.
