How to help injured wildlife
Losing his mother in a dog attack last December, tiny koala joey, Willy, faced an uncertain future. Now thanks to the care of University of Sydney Veterinarian, Dr Bree Talbot, Willy is getting ready to be released back into the bush.聽
鈥楲earning to be a koala鈥� is how Dr Talbot describes Willy鈥檚 current treatment priority. It鈥檚 been quite a journey getting this far. When Willy鈥檚 mother was killed, he weighed just 480 grams and was vulnerable to all manner predators, infections and one disease in particular.
鈥淢any orphaned koala joeys die from a disease called typhocolitis,鈥� says Dr Talbot. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a bacterial infection affecting the colon, that infant koalas are especially susceptible to.鈥�
Luckily, Willy was taken to University of Sydney鈥檚 Avian, Reptile and Exotic Pet Hospital at Camden, where he was given preventive antibiotics and probiotics to stop the condition from developing. After that, the challenge became preparing the tiny joey for his eventual return to the wild. That鈥檚 the stage he鈥檚 at now.
Willy was partnered with another juvenile male koala, Hunter. The two have been placed in a large, protected aviary where they will learn how to be koalas, including identifying and eating native plants, and how they can live without relying on humans.
Give our wildlife the best possible care
The Camden pet hospital, where Dr Talbot works and where Willy is under care, is recognised for its exceptional work with wildlife. It is often called upon by rescue organisations like Wires and the Sydney Metropolitan Wildlife Service to perform anything from monitoring a growing wombat to emergency surgery on an injured owl.
鈥淭oo often, the wildlife is brought in to us because of something related to human activity,鈥� she says. 鈥淲hether it鈥檚 an eastern long neck turtle that has been hit by a car, or blue tongue lizard that鈥檚 been attacked by a dog.鈥�
Students on placement at the Avian, Reptile and Exotic Pet Hospital gain confidence in caring for domestic and non-domestic animals.
鈥淥ur students have loved every one of Willy鈥檚 visits over the past 8 months, as we鈥檝e monitored his growth. He鈥檚 such a gorgeous boy. It鈥檚 also wonderful that we are now in the final stages before his release back into the wild.鈥�
While Willy is expected to be officially released at the end of the year, Dr Talbot hopes Willy鈥檚 story will encourage people to give towards treating sick and injured wildlife.
鈥業t鈥檚 really heartening that people bring injured wildlife to us,鈥� she says. 鈥淏ut it鈥檚 also difficult because all of our wildlife work is 100% reliant on donor funding.鈥�
