First Person
News source: The Weekender
21 February 2008
THE Sunshine Coast is home to many great things. Most are obvious, some operate behind the scenes. The Australian Wildlife Hospital, which will become the world's largest when work is completed on the new facility in April, is in the latter camp. Offering round-the-clock care for sick and injured wildlife, the team of staff and volunteers follow founder Steve Irwin's lead and stop at nothing to save native species from injuries and disease. Now, the call has gone out for more volunteers. Manager Gail Gipp explains what it takes to be a hospital helper.
What kind of person do you need to be? You just have to love animals and get enjoyment from working with them. You also have to have the time, not mind getting dirty and be pretty able-bodied as there's a lot of work done outside.
What would you do from day to day? Everything. Our volunteers clean all of the koala shelters, they paste-feed the koalas and look after the many animals in our care.
How many volunteers do you need? We've got 82 volunteers at the moment and need another 20. Some of our volunteers have been with us from the start and tell us they love it. It's a really nice environment to be in - we all work very closely and don't segregate between staff and volunteers. We're very grateful to them. We wouldn't be able to do it without the volunteers.
Snake's dinner bell
News source: The Courier-Mail
9 February 2008
By Philip Hammond
A COLLAR with bells on will help prevent your cat eating native wildlife, but it won't prevent the wildlife eating your cat.
That was this week's message from Caboolture Shire Council bushcare officer Ed Surman, who was called to Bribie Island last month where a big carpet python was curled up under a house.
Little Hannah on way to recovery
News source: The Sunday Mail
27 January 2008
By Hannah Davies
SHE'S had a rough ride so far but this baby platypus is now on the road to recovery.
Little Hannah has touched the hearts of carers at the Australian Wildlife Hospital at Beerwah, just north of Brisbane, since she was rescued from a flooded river in New South Wales.
'Big Ted' recovering
News source: Island News
23 January 2008
By The Ferryman
BIG Ted, the elderly loggerhead turtle rescued in the Pumicestone Passage in October 2007 and featured in the Bribie Weekly on November 23, is still under care at the Australian Wildlife Hospital.
The team was working hard to source information and food to help him heal and return to the wild.
First weighing in at about 108 kilograms when found by Dave at Bribie Island Boat Hire, his weight dropped to 97 kg but it was now a fantastic 107 kg and he was now starting to swim like the angel of the ocean that he is.
The team was tube feeding Ted with a "slurpy" made of green lipped muscles carrots, de-inked squid, prawns and bait fish - all in the kitchen blender. Yum. Bid Ted was relishing both the food and the attention.
Another loggerhead found recently sparked Ted's interest - she was a female, of breeding age and was found at Godwin Beach. The outlook was good for Winnie and she gave Ted a new lease on life.
Brooke (pictured in November 23 issue) unfortunately did not make it and was found to have extreme impaction in her gut described as "the size and depth of a concrete block". There was no hope for her as her sickness was months in the making. There were numerous rescues both up the coast and within Pumicestone Passage this season with many turtles reported with boat strikes as well as floating sickness. Please do not leave rubbish around - it ends up in the sea, with turtles eating items they cannot digest, dying a slow and painful death.
Ferryman Cruises, Bribie Island is trying to source wild by-catch that may be suitable to use for the turtles' rehabilitation. Should you spot a turtle in distress, phone 1300 369 652, or if dead, report any tag/identity number, size and injuries.
