RSPCA Victoria and Zoos Victoria appreciate the deep concern for animals including wildlife affected by the bushfires in Victoria.
It’s critical any response to emergency situations like this is coordinated to ensure people are kept safe and resources are deployed effectively to protect and help affected wildlife.
The Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) is the lead agency responsible for managing wildlife impacted by fire in accordance with the Victorian Response Plan for Wildlife Impacted by Fire and any questions on current operations should be directed to them.
RSPCA Victoria Inspectors are awaiting deployment to assist Agriculture Victoria’s field officers as they assess the welfare of thousands of livestock affected by the fires and providing humane euthanasia where required in areas that are safe to access.
Our thoughts are with those providing this deeply difficult but tragically necessary service to Victoria’s animals.
Zoos Victoria’s Australian Wildlife Health Centre at Healesville Sanctuary has been receiving cases from the fires around Alexandra and Yarck.
Cases treated to date include birds and possums, one echidna, and one macropod.
These cases are usually extreme and their prognosis is poor, which is why the hospital is the appropriate place for their treatment.
Zoos Victoria acknowledges the excellent wildlife rescue and rehabilitation undertaken by Victoria’s carer network.
Wildlife injured by bushfires are typically critical, requiring high levels of pain management under veterinary supervision, in a specialised hospital facility, which Zoos Victoria is best placed to provide.
Melbourne Zoo, Werribee Open Range Zoo’s RSPCA Koala Ward and Kyabram Fauna Park have not yet received inpatients from these fires.
Please note that Werribee Open Range Zoo’s RSPCA Koala Ward has been designed with the specific requirements of koalas in mind but is fully capable of treating and rehabilitating all wildlife requiring treatment, not just koalas.
DEECA wildlife assessment teams will assess the situation and determine whether further support and resources are required through the Wildlife Emergency Support Network (WESN).
A triage unit comprising Zoos Victoria vets and vet nurses is awaiting deployment to the field as soon as it is safe to do so as directed by DEECA as the lead agency.
RSPCA Victoria’s Mobile Animal Care Unit (MAC) has also been prepared for use and has been offered to the relevant authorities for deployment to support the on-site assessment and treatment of animals by qualified veterinary staff when and where it is safe to do so.
While MAC support hasn’t been requested yet, it remains on standby and ready for deployment.
It is vital people remember fire grounds are dangerous, even after the fire front has passed.
We are urging everyone, including individuals and wildlife rescue and rehabilitation groups to follow the directions of authorities in Victoria and not to enter any fire ground areas until it is declared safe to do so.
If anyone finds injured wildlife, do not attempt to move it as it may have non-visible injuries and approaching them, or using improper capture and handling techniques can cause further distress or injury to both you and wildlife.
Instead, anyone who finds injured wildlife is asked to report the animal on the Wildlife Emergency App or by calling DEECA on 136 186, which enables the animal’s location to be shared with a trained wildlife rescuer who can provide safe and appropriate care, including transport to a nearby wildlife shelter.
Members of the public who would like to support recovery efforts in Bushfire affected areas can make a donation to:
Unless specifically requested by veterinary services or rescue groups, financial donations are the most useful at this time.
For more information about RSPCA Victoria’s involvement click here.
For more information about Zoos Victoria’s involvement click here.
