As wildlife carers, our constant message is clear: please hand over your injured or orphaned wildlife to a registered carer. This sentiment is echoed around the country as we continue to see the damage done to our wildlife when improper care leads to euthanasia. I am here to echo that sentiment.
Karli arrived at Amaris on August 15th, weighing just 821 grams. Her Mummy had been killed in a hit and run MVA and left on the side of the road. Ravens had already begun to attack her, resulting in serious damage to her tail. I wasn't prepared for another joey—Kenny and Katie had just returned home after being critically ill. But Karli needed someone with wound care experience, so I welcomed her to Amaris.
Being a registered carer doesn't mean we know it all or know it better. It means we have a network of carers for support and mentorship and established relationships with vets. After a vet visit, we decided to treat the wound and hopefully avoid amputation of part of the tail. Thankfully, with the support and advice of our wound care heroes Claire of Karlup Animal Sanctuary and Wildlife Vet Nurse Alice, Karli is doing well, and her tail is almost healed. It's taken two months of daily dressing changes and a few vet visits to ensure everything was on track.
Being a registered carer doesn't mean we have all the answers. On Sunday night, Karli stopped drinking her bottle. She had been struggling with hay fever, and I thought it was just uncomfortable for her to drink. I gave her some saline drops, anti-histamine, and put her to bed. Monday morning, I could see she was in a lot of pain, dehydrated, and not wanting her bottle again. A dash to the vet for fluids and pain relief and consulting with my amazing mentors Claire and Sam revealed constipation. More pain meds, olive oil in milk, pushing hydration fluids all day, another vet visit, more pain relief, and more fluids. The following morning her bowels opened up, and she was much better. It has taken a few days, but today she was back on her feet, ready to be a big girl.
We have seen an increase in members of the public putting their hands up to look after injured wildlife. Unfortunately, carers with no experience will often keep wildlife with serious injuries without pain relief because they don’t know how to recognise pain. We've seen joeys with infections, fractures in their spine and hips, and broken jaws being kept for days and weeks as pets, toys for their children, without pain relief, being paraded around like healthy puppies. Wildlife have an enormous threshold for pain, and the cruelty imposed on them by well-meaning members of the public is horrific and cruel.
We do this in our own time, at our own expense. We are not here for accolades or kudos; we are here because we care. So, we continue to emphasize: please pass on wildlife to a registered carer. Yes, they may not know everything, but they will have an amazing network of experienced mentors and vets. I am so blessed with my mentor network and relationship with my vet. Not only do they know how to support and encourage, to advise and assist—they know me and my limits.
Let's work together to ensure our wildlife gets the care they need and deserve.
“Inspiring hope and healing for Australia’s wildlife, one rescue at a time.” 
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