Wildlife carers are invaluable in our community, providing care for sick, injured and orphaned wildlife.
Contacting a wildlife carer about injured wildlife
What do I do if I find an injured, sick or orphaned native animal:
| Organisation | Contact | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Ipswich Koala Protection Society | Phone: (07) 5464 6274 Web: Facebook.com/ipswichkoalaprotectionsociety | Rescues all wildlife and specialises in koalas. Providing a 24-hour, 7-days a week ambulance service for sick, injured and orphaned wildlife. |
| RSPCA Wildlife Hospital | Phone (Wacol): (07) 3426 9910 Phone: RSPCA 1300 264 625 (1300 ANIMAL) Web: rspcaqld.org.au | 1300 ANIMAL is the standard hotline for reporting injured, sick or orphaned native animals. |
Other wildlife carers
| Organisation | Contact | Details |
|---|---|---|
| FAUNA Association Inc | Phone: 1300 328 621 (1300 FAUNA 1) Phone (Wildlife emergencies): (07) 5424 6055 Web: fauna.com.au | Fostercare of Australia's Unique Native Animals (FAUNA) Inc is a dedicated group of people who care for sick, injred and orphaned native Australian animals. |
| ARROW Inc | Phone (rescue hotline): 0430 904 415 | Australian Rescue and Rehabilitation of Wildlife Association (ARROW) Inc is a volunteer organisation dedicated to the rescue and rehabilitation of sick, injured and orphaned wildlife. |
| Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital | Phone (Australia Zoo): 1300 369 652 Phone (Appointments): (07) 5436 2097 Web: wildlifewarriors.org.au | One of the world's largest and busiest purpose-built wildlife hospitals, based at Australia Zoo on the Sunshine Coast. |
| ONARR | Phone (rescue hotline): (07) 3030 2245 Email: admin@onarr.org.au | Orphaned Native Animals Rear and Release (ONARR) is a community based program run by volunteers. |
| Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service | Hotline: 1300 130 372 Web: Wildlife contact page | Hotline for reporting incidents such as human-wildlife interaction incidents, eg kangaroo attack or reporting fish/aquatic animal deaths in rivers and creeks. |
Specific animal carers
| Organisation | Contact | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Bat Rescue (Ipswich) | Phone: (07) 3062 6730 Web: batrescue.org.au | Flying foxes / bats / fruit bats |
| Bat Conservation and Rescue Qld | Phone (rescue hotline): 0488 228 134 Web: bats.org.au | Flying foxes / bats / fruit bats |
| B.I.R.O | Phone: 0432 507 705 (calls only, no SMS) Web: biro.org.au | Birds |
Becoming a wildlife carer
Volunteering as a wildlife carer makes a real and practical contribution to wildlife conservation in Queensland.
Wildlife carers are volunteers who treat wild native animals, usually on their own property, and release the animals back into their natural environment.
Council provides some support to wildlife carers such as through the Enviroplan Levy Community Funding.
To become a wildlife carer you must:
- hold or be endorsed under a rehabilitiation permit
- meet the standards described in the Code of Practice - Care of Sick, Injured or Orphaned Protected Animals in Queensland.
If you are interested in volunteering as a wildlife carer, contact your nearest wildlife group.
To find a group near you, contact RSPCA Queensland (1300 ANIMAL) or the Queensland Wildlife Rehabilitation Council.