Gum Tips March 2020
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Gum Tips March 2020 Learn more Update News WILD KOALA BUSHFIRE WILDLIFE DRINKING BREEDING PROGRAM VICTIMS STATIONS REPORT BY CLINICAL DIRECTOR, CHEYNE FLANAGAN Where does one start? Australia those who remain alive and are and koalas consequently cannot has been in the grip of the worst struggling to survive. We weep for get enough water. Koalas are then drought in recorded history with them all. forced to go to ground seeking rivers literally stopping flowing, water which of course is often hard For the wild koalas of New South to find. This is why we often see dams drying out, eucalypts Wales (NSW) the impact of footage of koalas chasing people dying and so many species of bushfires and drought has had on bicycles. They can smell the wildlife dying of starvation and a major impact on the overall water in the drink bottles and the dehydration. And then along came population. Well over 30% of fear of humans is overridden by the bushfires. identified koala habitat in NSW the need for water. The only way to describe these has been wiped out in bushfires bushfires is hell on earth. so far. The overall loss is still to be In recent times, one of the common Armageddon. It has been horrific, estimated. Nonetheless it is likely causes of admission to care has terrifying and so heartbreaking. that approximately 2,000 koalas been extremely dehydrated and From October 2019 through to may have died. starving koalas particularly into facilities in western NSW. The same January 2020, it felt like the whole The drought affecting Australia and problem is reflected in all other country was on fire with every particularly NSW, which has been species such as kangaroos, flying news media outlet showing footage occurring for a number of years foxes (bats) and even birds who are that was just unbelievable. has certainly had a major impact also suffering just the same. From a wildlife perspective and of on koala populations particularly course from a koala perspective, on the tablelands and western So all our koalas and other wildlife the impact on our unique and plains regions of the state. were already struggling with drought – and the bushfires were beautiful wildlife is still largely Koalas obtain the majority of just the last straw. unknown. It is likely some species their daily water needs from the have been wiped out completely. eucalypt leaves themselves, and When the bushfires first hit our We despair for so many millions when severe drought occurs, even region, they were of such high of animals who have perished and the eucalypts struggle to survive intensity and so big they created Front cover images show some of our bushfire victims. Clockwise from top left: LINR Samantha and Joey, LINR Anwen, Ruins Way Baz, Nabiac Austin, LINR Paul. Anwen, Baz, Austin and Paul were all burnt in bushfires; at time of print they continue to recover at the Koala Hospital. Samantha and Joey did not suffer burns but were left homeless by the bushfires. They are two of many koalas being cared for at the Hospital until their bushland homes regenerate enough to sustain them. GUM TIPS | MARCH 2020 | P2 their own weather! The skies seemed like there was a conveyor future is one of permanent pain looked like an atomic bomb had belt of koala patients coming and suffering. through the doors! hit, and the smoke was so thick it Every animal is precious to us in was almost dark in the middle of Sadly not all the koala patients who more ways than one. the day. came into the hospital survived We must also appreciate that Our search and rescue teams their ordeal. It is likely their we still had and still have all our started to prepare. All of our systems were so compromised normal patients being admitted team are fully qualified with Rural from the drought, that suffering during this time. Koalas were still Fire Service, have all the correct burns as well was just too much coming in being hit by cars and fire gear and are experienced in for some. We also had to make suffering from diseases, etc. undertaking this gruelling, hot the decision to euthanase a few We have also taken burns patients difficult job. Once the teams were of them as their injuries were too from other locations in NSW as well allowed in, the search work began. severe. Everyone will remember so the hospital is still at capacity. the haunting footage of the koala Burnt koalas began to be brought We have had to resort to building running into the active fire and the into the hospital for assessment off site enclosures on private land kind lady who ripped off her shirt and treatment. We were also to accommodate all the patients! and captured him from the flames. treating kangaroos, possums, and That koala was Ellenborough Lewis We will be keeping the burns turtles. and his burns injuries were such patients here until at least next We had so many burnt patients that even with the best burns winter. Their injuries should have coming in, we decided to set up treatment available for koalas healed well by then, plus hopefully a second examination table and he would have suffered a life of the vegetation on the firegrounds anaesthetic machine and we had pain. The Koala Hospital is first will have returned. two teams of qualified/experienced and foremost an animal welfare We have had some magnificent burns staff treating koalas on both organisation and we will never rain in NSW but not enough to tables at the same time. It almost keep an animal alive if we feel the break the drought. CONTENTS Report by Clinical Director, Cheyne Flanagan ................ 2 Providing water to wildlife ................................................12 Report by President, Sue Ashton ...................................... 5 Impact of recent bushfires… ............................................14 The koala burns ward (bushfire victims) ......................... 6 Trees for life ........................................................................16 Fires drive new era for Koala Hospital ............................. 8 Koala Smart.........................................................................17 Wild koala breeding program. .........................................10 Young voices .......................................................................18 Brand new Koala Hospital… .............................................11 Extraordinary generosity ..................................................19 Erratum: We apologise for an error in December 2019 Gum Tips. On page 8, the image captioned Young Rose can be quite active! should have been credited ‘Image courtesy of Port News’. GUM TIPS | MARCH 2020 | P3 We are all so proud of our volunteers. Everyone has worked really hard, longer hours and more days. Many of our volunteers have been working in a number of different jobs and the workload is still very high. What a great team we have. The response worldwide to Australia’s catastrophic bushfires has been overwhelming. The outpouring of support both in donations, supplies and offers of help has and continues to be amazing. We will be able to do incredible projects with the donations. We will be commencing a wild koala breeding programme and we will buy land for conservation purposes. We are determined that we will not lose this much loved icon of Australia. We will endeavour to protect and manage these conservation lands using knowledge that will come out of the current situation. The big bonus is all the other plants and animals that live in the same A new arrival, just rescued from a fireground, is assessed in the clinic environment as koalas will be at the Koala Hospital. protected as well. We thank all of you for your amazing support. FREE KOALA FOOD TREES AVAILABLE! Our annual free koala food tree distribution is scheduled to start again mid March. This is a great opportunity for local landholders, residents and organisations to help with renewal of vital habitat. Tube stock trees will be provided by Forestry Corporation of NSW and will be available for collection from the Port Macquarie Koala Hospital. Information is available about how to plant and manage the trees for success. This year, we anticipate up to 35,000 trees will be made available for collection across these species: Eucalyptus robusta (Swamp Mahogany) Eucalyptus tereticornis (Forest Red Gum) Eucalyptus punctata (Grey Gum) Eucalyptus microcorys (Tallowwood) To make a reservation for 40 or more trees, email [email protected] or call 02 6584 1522. For smaller plantings, simply call to check stock is available on the day you plan to arrive. GUM TIPS | MARCH 2020 | P4 REPORT BY PRESIDENT, SUE ASHTON In what will be remembered by Hospital could share its knowledge works was launched in Port most as the worst summer in and experience in the search and Macquarie in February, before Australia’s recent history, the rescue of wildlife. moving to the Wentworth Gallery in bush fires have brought about Australia Day – the Premier Sydney. a huge volume of work for the of NSW recognised people and In March – As part of the United Port Macquarie Koala Hospital organisations that contributed Nations (UN) World Wildlife Day which has seen many of our 150 during the bush fires that ravaged 2020, the Koala Hospital’s Clinical volunteers working extra shifts, NSW from late 2019. A photo of Director, Cheyne Flanagan, is and doing extra jobs, just to keep three of our people was projected presenting at the UN Paley Center the hospital going. My thanks onto the sails of the Sydney Opera in New York, at the ‘Wild Ideas to the many people who have House on Australia Day night. The 2020’ a think-tank for nature and volunteered time to help the Koala photo represented everyone at the community. The theme for the Hospital. Koala Hospital and the plantations event is 'Global Warning: Wildlife vs In addition to an increased ‘in- and was well deserved recognition Wildfire'.