Injured wildlife

The Parks and Wildlife Service of the NT no longer provide a rescue service for injured, ill or orphaned native wildlife. This service is now provided by organisations within the community that are strongly supported by the Parks and Wildlife Service.

The Wildlife Rescue hotline is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year, by Wildlife Rescue Darwin.

Contact details:  0409 090 840 (Darwin), or Visit Wildlife Rescue Darwin for more information.

Wildlife drop off points are available during business hours at:

• Ark Animal Hospital (8947 3643) - Berrimah, 80 Boulter Road, behind the RSPCA
• Ark Animal Hospital (8932 9738) - Yarrawonga, cnr of Callanan Rd and Georgina Cresent
• Ark Animal Hospital (8988 3340) - Humpty Doo, 12 Verker Street

The native animals you are most likely to come across are wallabies, small mammals and birds. Tiny wallabies are often found alive in their dead mothers' pouch after the adult animals have been hit by vehicles. These babies need extra special handling and should be handed over to experienced carers as quickly as possible.

Most of the young birds found on the ground are fledglings - or baby birds learning to fly. The Parks and Wildlife Service advises that If you find a fledgling, and the bird has no obvious injuries, you should try to place it at head height on a tree or shrub branch within 20m of where it was found. It has reached the stage where it doesn't need a nest anymore - and, contrary to popular belief, it will be accepted back by its mother, even if it has been touched by humans.

If you have found a nestling, look for its nest and try to place it back if possible. If the whole nest has fallen from the tree, try to replace the nest into a nearby tree or shrub, at head height. If the nest has fallen apart, try making a new one using a plastic container (with holes in the bottom to let rainwater drain out) and small sticks as bedding.

If all else fails and you can't return the bird to its parents, or if the bird is obviously sick or injured, you will need to arrange for a volunteer carer to look after the bird.

Again, if you find any injured and orphaned native animal that you cannot help, ring Wildlife Rescue on phone 0409 090 840 and give it the best chance to survive.

TOP